JACK   AND  JILL 


A    VILLAGE  STORY. 


BY 


LOUISA   M.   ALCOTT, 

AUTHOR  OF  "  LITTLE  WOMEN,"  "  AN  OLD-FASHIONED  GIRL,"   "  LITTLE  MEN, 

"EIGHT  COUSINS,"   "ROSE  IN  BLOOM,"   "UNDER  THE   LILACS," 

"HOSPITAL  SKETCHES,"  "WORK,"  "SILVER  PITCHERS," 

"AUNT  lo's  SCRAP-BAG." 


^lustrations. 


BOSTON: 

ROBERTS      BROTHER  S. 
1890. 


Copyright,  1880, 
BY  LOUISA  M.  ALCOTT. 


UNIVERSITY  PRESS: 
JOHN  WILSON  AND  SON,   CAMBRIDGE. 


HARMONY   VILLAGE. 

:  Clear  the  lulla !  "  was  the  general  cry  when  all  the  boys  and  girls  were  ouf.l 

eniovin?  the  first  trnnH  snow  nf  thp  sMsnn   —  Pirri?   r 


33  1 
/8?o 

CONTENTS.     faPit 


CHAP.  PAQK 

I.  THE  CATASTROPHE 1 

II.  Two  PENITENTS 12 

III.  WARD  No.  1 19 

IV.  WARD  No.  2 33 

V.  SECRETS 44 

VI.  SURPRISES 50 

VII.  JILL'S  MISSION 67 

VIII.  MERRY  AND  MOLLY 82 

IX.  THE  DEBATING  CLUB 97 

X.  THE  DRAMATIC  CLUB 113 

XI.  "Dowx  BRAKES" 12G 

XII.  THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY      .     .  137 

XIII.  JACK  HAS  A  MYSTERY 153 

XIV.  AND  JILL  FINDS  IT  OUT 168 

XV.  SAINT  LUCY 180 

XVI.  UP  AT  MERRY'S 195 

XVII.  DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S 209 

XVIII.  MAY  BASKETS 224 

XIX.  GOOD  TEMPLARS 238 

XX.  A  SWEET  MEMORY 252 

XXI.  PEBBLY  BEACH 265 

XXII.  A  HAPPY  DAY 284 

XXIII.  CATTLE  Snow 295 

XXIV.  DOWN  THE  RIVER  311 


TO    THE    SCHOOLMATES 

OF 

ELLSWORTH  D  EVENS, 

WHOSE    LOVELY   CHARACTER    WILL    NOT    SOON    BE    FORGOTTEN", 

Jctor 


IS    AFFECTIONATELY    INSCRIBED     BY 
THEIR    FRIEND, 


THE    AUTHOR. 


JACK   AND   JILL. 


Jack  and  Jill  went  up  the  hill 

To  coast  with  fun  and  laughter ; 
Jack  fell  down  and  broke  his  crown, 

And  Jill  came  tumbling  after. 

CHAPTER    I. 
THE    CATASTROPHE. 

u  /"""^LEAR  the  lulla ! "  was  the  general  cry  on  a 
V-x  bright  December  afternoon,  when  all  the  boys 
•and  girls  of  Harmony  Village  were  out  enjoying  the 
first  good  snow  of  the  season.  Up  and  down  three 
long  coasts  they  went  as  fast  as  legs  and  sleds  could 
carry  them.  One  smooth  path  led  into  the  meadow, 
and  here  the  little  folk  congregated ;  one  swept 
across  the  pond,  where  skaters  were  darting  about 
like  water-bugs ;  and  the  third,  from  the  very  top 
of  the  steep  hill,  ended  abruptly  at  a  rail  fence  on 
the  high  bank  above  the  road.  There  was  a  group  of 
lads  and  lasses  sitting  or  leaning  on  this  fence  to  rest 
after  an  exciting  race,  and,  as  they  reposed,  they 
amused  themselves  with  criticising  their  mates,  still 
absorbed  in  this  most  delightful  of  out-door  sports. 

"  Here  comes  Frank  Minot,  looking  as  solemn  as  a 
judge,"  cried  one,  as  a  tall  fellow  of  sixteen  spun  by, 

1 


2  JACK  AND  JILL. 

with  a  set  look  about  the  mouth  and  a  keen  sparkle 
of  the  eyes,  fixed  on  the  distant  goal  with  a  do-or-die 

expression. 

"  Here  's  Molly  Loo 
And  little  Boo  ! " 

sang  out  another ;  and  down  came  a  girl  with  flying 
hair,  carrying  a  small  boy  behind  her,  so  fat  that  his 
short  legs  stuck  out  from  the  sides,  and  his  round  face 
looked  over  her  shoulder  like  a  full  moon. 

"  There 's  Gus  Burton  ;  does  n't  he  go  it  ?  "  and 
such  a  very  long  boy  whizzed  by,  that  it  looked  almost 
as  if  his  heels  were  at  the  top  of  the  hill  when  his 
head  was  at  the  bottom  ! 

"  Hurrah  for  Ed  Devlin ! "  and  a  general  shout 
greeted  a  sweet-faced  lad,  with  a  laugh  on  his  lips,  a 
fine  color  on  his  brown  cheek,  and  a  gay  word  for 
every  girl  he  passed. 

"  Laura  and  Lotty  keep  to  the  safe  coast  into  the 
meadow,  and  Molly  Loo  is  the  only  girl  that  dares  to 
try  this  long  one  to  the  pond.  I  wouldn't  for  the 
world ;  the  ice  can't  be  strong  yet,  though  it  is  cold 
enough  to  freeze  one's  nose  off,"  said  a  timid  damsel, 
who  sat  hugging  a  post  and  screaming  whenever  a 
mischievous  lad  shook  the  fence. 

"  No,   she  is  n't ;   here  's  Jack  and  Jill  going  like 

fury." 

"  Clear  the  track 
For  jolly  Jack ! " 

sang  the  boys,  who  had  rhymes  and  nicknames  for' 
nearly  every  one. 

Down  came  a  gay  red  sled,  bearing  a  boy  who 
seemed  all  smile  and  sunshine,  so  white  were  his  teeth, 
BO  golden  was  his  hair,  so  bright  and  happy  his  whole 


THE   CATASTROPHE.  3 

air.  Behind  him  clung  a  little  gypsy  of  a  girl,  with 
black  eyes  and  hair,  cheeks  as  red  as  her  hood,  and  a 
face  full  of  fun  and  sparkle,  as  she  waved  Jack's  blue 
tippet  like  a  banner  with  one  hand,  and  held  on  with 
the  other. 

"  Jill  goes  wherever  Jack  does,  and  he  lets  her. 
He  's  such  a  good-natured  chap,  he  can't  say  No." 

"  To  a  girl,"  slyly  added  one  of  the  boys,  who  had 
wished  to  borrow  the  red  sled,  and  had  been  politely 
refused  because  Jill  wanted  it. 

"  He 's  the  nicest  boy  in  the  world,  for  he  never  gets 
mad,"  said  the  timid  young  lady,  recalling  the  many 
times  Jack  had  shielded  her  from  the  terrors  which 
beset  her  path  to  school,  in  the  shape  of  cows,  dogs, 
and  boys  who  made  faces  and  called  her  "  'Fraid-cat." 

"  He  does  n't  dare  to  get  mad  with  Jill,  for  she  'd 
take  his  head  off  in  two  minutes  if  he  did,"  growled 
Joe  Flint,  still  smarting  from  the  rebuke  Jill  had  given 
him  for  robbing  the  little  ones  of  their  safe  coast 
because  he  fancied  it. 

"  She  would  n't !  she  's  a  dear !  You  need  n't  sniff 
at  her  because  she  is  poor.  She's  ever  so  much 
brighter  than  you  are,  or  she  would  n't  always  be  at 
the  head  of  your  class,  old  Joe,"  cried  the  girls,  stand 
ing  by  their  friend  with  a  unanimity  which  proved 
what  a  favorite  she  was. 

Joe  subsided  with  as  scornful  a  curl  to  his  nose  as  its 
chilly  state  permitted,  and  Merry  Grant  introduced  a 
subject  of  general  interest  by  asking  abruptly, — 

"  Who  is  going  to  the  candy-scrape  to-night  ?  " 

"All  of  us.  Frank  invited  the  whole  set,  and  we 
shall  have  a  tip-top  time.  We  always  do  at  the 
Minots',"  cried  Sue,  the  timid  trembler. 


4  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  Jack  said  there  was  a  barrel  of  molasses  in  the 
house,  so  there  would  be  enough  for  all  to  eat  and 
some  to  carry  away.  They  know  how  to  do  things 
handsomely ; "  arid  the  speaker  licked  his  lips,  as  if 
already  tasting  the  feast  in  store  for  him. 

"  Mrs.  Minot  is  a  mother  worth  having,"  said  Molly 
Loo,  coming  up  with  Boo  on  the  sled ;  and  she  knew 
what  it  was  to  need  a  mother,  for  she  had  none,  and 
tried  to  care  for  the  little  brother  with  maternal  love 
and  patience. 

"  She  is  just  as  sweet  as  she  can  be  ! "  declared 
Merry,  enthusiastically. 

"Especially  when  she  has  a  candy-scrape,"  said  Joe, 
trying  to  be  amiable,  lest  he  should  be  left  out  of  the 
party. 

Whereat  they  all  laughed,  and  went  gayly  away  for 
a  farewell  frolic,  as  the  sun  was  setting  and  the  keen 
wind  nipped  fingers  and  toes  as  well  as  noses. 

Down  they  went,  one  after  another,  on  the  various 
coasts,  —  solemn  Frank,  long  Gus,  gallant  Ed,  fly-away 
Molly  Loo,  pretty  Laura  and  Lotty,  grumpy  Joe, 
sweet-faced  Merry  with  Sue  shrieking  wildly  behind 
her,  gay  Jack  and  gypsy  Jill,  always  together,  — 
one  and  all  bubbling  over  with  the  innocent  jollity 
born  of  healthful  exercise.  People  passing  in  the  road 
below  looked  up  and  smiled  involuntarily  at  the  red- 
cheeked  lads  and  lasses,  filling  the  frosty  air  with  peals 
of  laughter  and  cries  of  triumph  as  they  flew  by  in  every 
conceivable  attitude  ;  for  the  fun  was  at  its  height  now, 
and  the  oldest  and  gravest  observers  felt  a  glow  of 
pleasure  as  they  looked,  remembering  their  own  young 
days. 

"  Jack,   take   me   down    that    coast.      Joe    said    I 


THE   CATASTROPHE.  5 

would  n't  dare  to  do  it,  so  I  must,"  commanded  Jill,  as 
they  paused  for  breath  after  the  long  trudge  up  hill. 
Jill,  of  course,  was  not  her  real  name,  but  had  been 
given  because  of  her  friendship  with  Jack,  who  so 
admired  Janey  Pecq's  spirit  and  fun. 

"  I  guess  I  would  n't.  It  is  very  bumpy  and  ends  in 
a  big  drift ;  not  half  so  nice  as  this  one.  Hop  on  and 
we  '11  have  a  good  spin  across  the  pond ; "  and  Jack 
brought  "  Thunderbolt "  round  with  a  skilful  swing 
and  an  engaging  air  that  would  have  won  obedience 
from  anybody  but  wilful  Jill. 

"  It  is  very  nice,  but  I  won't  be  told  I  don't '  dare  '  by 
any  boy  in  the  world.  If  you  are  afraid,  I  '11  go  alone." 
And,  before  he  could  speak,  she  had  snatched  the  rope 
from  his  hand,  thrown  herself  upon  the  sled,  and  was 
off,  helter-skelter,  down  the  most  dangerous  coast  on 
the  hill-side. 

She  did  not  get  far,  however;  for,  starting  in  a 
hurry,  she  did  not  guide  her  steed  with  care,  and  the 
red  charger  landed  her  in  the  snow  half-way  down, 
where  she  lay  laughing  till  Jack  came  to  pick  her  up. 

"If  you  will  go,  I  '11  take  you  down  all  right.  I  'm 
not  afraid,  for  I  've  done  it  a  dozen  times  with  the 
other  fellows;  but  we  gave  it  up  because  it  is  short 
and  bad,"  he  said,  still  good-natured,  though  a  little 
hurt  at  the  charge  of  cowardice ;  for  Jack  was  as  brave 
as  a  little  lion,  and  with  the  best  sort  of  bravery,  —  the 
courage  to  do  right. 

"  So  it  is ;  but  I  must  do  it  a  few  times,  or  Joe  will 
plague  me  and  spoil  my  fun  to-night,"  answered  Jill, 
shaking  her  skirts  and  rubbing  her  blue  hands,  wet  and 
cold  with  the  snow. 

"  Here,  put  these  on  ;  I  never  use  them.     Keep  them 


6  JACK  AND  JILL. 

if  they  fit ;  I  only  carry  them  to  please  mother."  And 
Jack  pulled  out  a  pair  of  red  mittens  with  the  air  of  a 
boy  used  to  giving  away. 

"  They  are  lovely  warm,  and  they  do  fit.  Must  be 
too  small  for  your  paws,  so  I  '11  knit  you  a  new  pair  for 
Christmas,  and  make  you  wear  them,  too,"  said  Jill, 
putting  on  the  mittens  with  a  nod  of  thanks,  and  end 
ing  her  speech  with  a  stamp  of  her  rubber  boots  to 
enforce  her  threat. 

Jack  laughed,  and  up  they  trudged  to  the  spot 
whence  the  three  coasts  diverged. 

"  Now,  which  will  you  have  ? "  he  asked,  with  a 
warning  look  in  the  honest  blue  eyes  which  often 
unconsciously  controlled  naughty  Jill  against  her  will. 

"  That  one ! "  and  the  red  mitten  pointed  firmly  to 
the  perilous  path  just  tried. 

"  You  will  do  it  ?  " 

"  I  will ! " 

"  Come  on,  then,  and  hold  tight." 

Jack's  smile  was  gone  now,  and  he  waited  without  a 
word  while  Jill  tucked  herself  up,  then  took  his  place 
in  front,  and  off  they  went  on  the  brief,  breathless  trip 
straight  into  the  drift  by  the  fence  below. 

"  I  don't  see  anything  very  awful  in  that.  Come  up 
and  have  another.  Joe  is  watching  us,  and  I  'd  like  to 
show  him  that  we  are  n't  afraid  of  anything,"  said  Jill, 
with  a  defiant  glance  at  a  distant  boy,  who  had  paused 
to  watch  the  descent. 

"  It  is  a  regular  '  go-bang,'  if  that  is  what  you  like," 
answered  Jack,  as  they  plowed  their  way  up  again. 

"  It  is.  You  boys  think  girls  like  little  mean  coasts 
without  any  fun  or  danger  in  them,  as  if  we  could  n't 
be  brave  and  strong  as  well  as  you.  Give  me  three  go- 


THE   CATASTROPHE.  1 

bangs  and  then  we  '11  stop.  My  tumble  does  n't  count, 
so  give  me  two  more  and  then  I  '11  be  good." 

Jill  took  her  seat  as  she  spoke,  and  looked  up  with 
such  a  rosy,  pleading  face  that  Jack  gave  in  at  once, 
and  down  they  went  again,  raising  a  cloud  of  glittering 
snow-dust  as  they  reined  up  in  fine  style  with  their 
feet  on  the  fence. 

"  It 's  just  splendid  !  Now,  one  more  !  "  cried  Jill, 
excited  by  the  cheers  of  a  sleighing  party  passing 
below. 

Proud  of  his  skill,  Jack  marched  back,  resolved  to 
make  the  third  "go"  the  crowning  achievement  of  the 
afternoon,  while  Jill  pranced  after  him  as  lightly  as  if 
the  big  boots  were  the  famous  seven-leagued  ones,  and 
chattering  about  the  candy-scrape  and  whether  there 
would  be  nuts  or  not. 

So  full  were  they  of  this  important  question,  that 
they  piled  on  hap-hazard,  and  started  off  still  talking 
so  busily  that  Jill  forgot  to  hold  tight  and  Jack  to  steer 
carefully.  Alas,  for  the  candy-scrape  that  never  was  to 
be  !  alas,  for  poor  "  Thunderbolt  "  blindly  setting  forth 
on  the  last  trip  he  ever  made !  and  oh,  alas,  for  Jack 
and  Jill,  who  wilfully  chose  the  wrong  road  and  ended 
their  fun  for  the  winter!  No  one  knew  how  it  hap 
pened,  but  instead  of  landing  in  the  drift,  or  at  the 
fence,  there  was  a  great  crash  against  the  bars,  a  dread 
ful  plunge  off  the  steep  bank,  a  sudden  scattering  of 
girl,  boy,  sled,  fence,  earth,  and  snow,  all  about  the 
road,  two  cries,  and  then  silence. 

"  I  knew  they  'd  do  it ! "  and,  standing  on  the  post 
where  he  had  perched,  Joe  waved  his  arms  and 
shouted  :  "  Smash-up  !  Smash-up  !  Run  !  Run  !  "  like 
a  raven  croaking  over  a  battle-field  when  the  fight  was 
done. 


8  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Down  rushed  boys  and  girls  ready  to  laugh  or  cry,  as 
the  case  might  be,  for  accidents  will  happen  on  the 
best-regulated  coasting-grounds.  They  found  Jack- 
sitting  up  looking  about  him  with  a  queer,  dazed 
expression,  while  an  ugly  cut  on  the  forehead  was 
bleeding  in  a  way  which  sobered  the  boys  and  fright 
ened  the  girls  half  out  of  their  wits. 

"  He  's  killed  !  He 's  killed  ! "  wailed  Sue,  hiding  her 
face  and  beginning  to  cry. 

"  No,  I  'm  not.  I  '11  be  all  right  when  I  get  my 
breath.  Where  's  Jill  ?  "  asked  Jack,  stoutly,  though 
still  too  giddy  to  see  straight. 

The  group  about  him  opened,  and  his  comrade  in 
misfortune  was  discovered  lying  quietly  in  the  snow 
with  all  the  pretty  color  shocked  out  of  her  face  by  the 
fall,  and  winking  rapidly,  as  if  half  stunned.  But  no 
wounds  appeared,  and  when  asked  if  she  was  dead,  she 
answered  in  a  vague  sort  of  way,  — 

"  I  guess  not.     Is  Jack  hurt  ?  " 

"  Broken  his  head,"  croaked  Joe,  stepping  aside,  that 
she  might  behold  the  fallen  hero  vainly  trying  to  look 
calm  and  cheerful  with  red  drops  running  down  his 
cheek  and  a  lump  on  his  forehead. 

Jill  shut  her  eyes  and  waved  the  girls  away,  saying, 
faintly,  — 

"Never  mind  me.     Go  and  see  to  him." 

"  Don't !  I  'm  all  right,"  and  Jack  tried  to  get  up  in 
order  to  prove  that  headers  off  a  bank  were  mere  trifles 
to  him ;  but  at  the  first  movement  of  the  left  leg  he 
uttered  a  sharp  cry  of  pain,  and  would  have  fallen  if 
Gus  had  not  caught  and  gently  laid  him  down. 

"  What  is  it,  old  chap  ? "  asked  Frank,  kneeling 
beside  him,  really  alarmed  now,  the  hurts  seeming 


THE   CATASTROPHE. 

worse  than  mere  bumps,  which  were  common  affairs 
among  base-ball  players,  and  not  worth  much  notice. 

"  I  lit  on  my  head,  but  I  guess  I  Ve  broken  my  leg. 
Don't  frighten  mother,"  and  Jack  held  fast  to  Frank's 
arm  as  he  looked  into  the  anxious  face  bent  over  him ; 
for,  though  the  elder  tyrannized  over  the  younger,  the 
brothers  loved  one  another  dearly. 

"Lift  his  head,  Frank,  while  I  tie  my  handkerchief 
round  to  stop  the  bleeding,"  said  a  quiet  voice,  as  Ed 
Devlin  laid  a  handful  of  soft  snow  on  the  wound  ;  and 
Jack's  face  brightened  as  he  turned  to  thank  the  one 
big  boy  who  never  was  rough  with  the  small  ones. 

"Better  get  him  right  home,"  advised  Gus,  who 
stood  by  looking  on,  with  his  little  sisters  Laura  and 
Lotty  clinging  to  him. 

"  Take  Jill,  too,  for  it 's  my  opinion  she  has  broken 
her  back.  She  can  't  stir  one  bit,"  announced  Molly 
Loo,  with  a  droll  air  of  triumph,  as  if  rather  pleased 
than  otherwise  to  have  her  patient  hurt  the  worse;  for 
Jack's  wound  was  very  effective,  and  Molly  had  a  taste 
for  the  tragic. 

This  cheerful  statement  was  greeted  with  a  wail 
from  Susan  and  howls  from  Boo,  who  had  earned 
that  name  from  the  ease  with  which,  on  all  occasions, 
he  could  burst  into  a  dismal  roar  without  shedding  a 
tear,  and  stop  as  suddenly  as  he  began. 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  sorry !  It  was  my  fault ;  I  should  n't 
have  let  her  do  it,"  said  Jack,  distressfully. 

"  It  was  all  my  fault ;  I  made  him.  If  I  'd  broken 
every  bone  I  've  got,  it  would  serve  me  right.  Don't 
help  me,  anybody  ;  I  'm  a  wicked  thing,  and  I  deserve 
to  lie  here  and  freeze  and  starve  and  die  !  "  cried  Jill, 
piling  up  punishments  in  her  remorseful  anguish  of 
mind  and  body. 


10  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  But  we  want  to  help  you,  and  we  can  settle  about 
blame  by  and  by,"  whispered  Merry  with  a  kiss ;  for 
she  adored  dashing  Jill,  and  never  would  own  that  she 
did  wrong. 

"Here  come  the  wood-sleds  just  in  time.  I'll  cut 
away  and  tell  one  of  them  to  hurry  up."  And, 
freeing  himself  from  his  sisters,  Gus  went  off  at  a  great 
pace,  proving  that  the  long  legs  carried  a  sensible  head 
as  well  as  a  kind  heart. 

As  the  first  sled  approached,  an  air  of  relief  pervaded 
the  agitated  party,  for  it  was  driven  by  Mr.  Grant,  a 
big,  benevolent-looking  farmer,  who  surveyed  the 
scene  with  the  sympathetic  interest  of  a  man  and  a 
father. 

"Had  a  little  accident,  have  you?  Well,  that's  a 
pretty  likely  place  for  a  spill.  Tried  it  once  myself 
and  broke  the  bridge  of  my  nose,"  he  said,  tapping 
that  massive  feature  with  a  laugh  which  showed  that 
fifty  years  of  farming  had  not  taken  all  the  boy  out  of 
him.  "  Now  then,  let 's  see  about  this  little  chore, 
and  lively,  too,  for  it 's  late,  and  these  parties  ought  to 
be  housed,"  he  added,  throwing  down  his  whip,  push 
ing  back  his  cap,  and  nodding  at  the  wounded  with 
a  reassuring  smile. 

"  Jill  first,  please,  sir,"  said  Ed,  the  gentle  squire  of 
dames,  spreading  his  overcoat  on  the  sled  as  eagerly  as 
ever  Raleigh  laid  down  his  velvet  cloak  for  a  queen  to 
walk  upon. 

"All  right.  Just  lay  easy,  my  dear,  and  I  won't 
hurt  you  a  mite  if  I  can  help  it." 

Careful  as  Mr.  Grant  was,  Jill  could  have  screamed 
with  pain  as  he  lifted  her ;  but  she  set  her  lips  and 
bore  it  with  the  courage  of  a  little  Indian ;  for  all  the 


THE   CATASTROPHE.  11 

lads  were  looking  on,  and  Jill  was  proud  to  show  that 
a  girl  could  bear  as  much  as  a  boy.  She  hid  her  face 
in  the  coat  as  soon  as  she  was  settled,  to  hide  the  tears 
that  would  come,  and  by  the  time  Jack  was  placed 
beside  her,  she  had  quite  a  little  cistern  of  salt  water 
stored  up  in  Ed's  coat-pocket. 

Then  the  mournful  procession  set  forth,  Mr.  Grant 
driving  the  oxen,  the  girls  clustering  about  the  inter 
esting  invalids  on  the  sled,  while  the  boys  came  behind 
like  a  guard  of  honor,  leaving  the  hill  deserted  by  all 
but  Joe,  who  had  returned  to  hover  about  the  fatal 
fence,  and  poor  "  Thunderbolt,"  split  asunder,  lying  on 
the  bank  to  mark  the  spot  where  the  great  catastrophe 
occurred. 


CHAPTER    II. 
TWO     PENITENTS. 

JACK  and  Jill  never  cared  to  say  much  about  the 
night  which  followed  the  first  coasting  party  of  the 
season,  for  it  was  the  saddest  and  the  hardest  their 
short  lives  had  ever  known.  Jack  suffered  most  in 
body ;  for  the  setting  of  the  broken  leg  was  such  a 
painful  job,  that  it  wrung  several  sharp  cries  from  him, 
and  made  Frank,  who  helped,  quite  weak  and  white 
with  sympathy,  when  it  was  over.  The  wounded  head 
ached  dreadfully,  and  the  poor  boy  felt  as  if  bruised  all 
over,  for  he  had  the  worst  of  the  fall.  Dr.  Whiting 
spoke  cheerfully  of  the  case,  and  made  so  light  of 
broken  legs,  that  Jack  innocently  asked  if  he  should 
not  be  up  in  a  week  or  so. 

"  Well,  no ;  it  usually  takes  twenty-one  days  for 
bones  to  knit,  and  young  ones  make  quick  work  of  it," 
answered  the  doctor,  with  a  last  scientific  tuck  to  the 
various  bandages,  which  made  Jack  feel  like  a  hapless 
chicken  trussed  for  the  spit. 

"  Twenty-one  days  !  Three  whole  weeks  in  bed !  I 
should  n't  call  that  quick  work,"  groaned  the  dismayed 
patient,  whose  experience  of  illness  had  been  limited. 

"It  is  a  forty  days'  job,  young  man,  and  you  must 
make  up  your  mind  to  bear  it  like  a  hero.  We  will  do 


TWO  PENITENTS.  13 

our  best ;  but  next  time,  look  before  you  leap,  and  save 
your  bones.  Good-night ;  you  '11  feel  better  in  the 
morning.  No  jigs,  remember ;"  and  off  went  the  busy 
doctor  for  another  look  at  Jill,  who  had  been  ordered 
to  bed  and  left  to  rest  till  the  other  case  was  attended  to. 

Any  one  would  have  thought  Jack's  plight  much 
the  worse,  but  the  doctor  looked  more  sober  over  Jill's 
hurt  back  than  the  boy's  compound  fractures ;  and  the 
poor  little  girl  had  a  very  bad  quarter  of  an  hour  while 
he  was  trying  to  discover  the  extent  of  the  injury. 

"Keep  her  quiet,  and  time  will  show  how  much 
damage  is  done,"  was  all  he  said  in  her  hearing ;  but  if 
she  had  known  that  he  told  Mrs.  Pecq  he  feared  serious 
consequences,  she  would  not  have  wondered  why  her 
mother  cried  as  she  rubbed  the  numb  limbs  and  placed 
the  pillows  so  tenderly. 

Jill  suffered  most  in  her  mind  ;  for  only  a  sharp  stab 
of  pain  now  and  then  reminded  her  of  her  body ;  but 
her  remorseful  little  soul  gave  her  no  peace  for  think 
ing  of  Jack,  whose  bruises  and  breakages  her  lively 
fancy  painted  in  the  darkest  colors. 

"  Oh,  don't  be  good  to  me,  Mammy ;  I  made  him 
go,  and  now  he  's  hurt  dreadfully,  and  may  die  ;  and  it 
is  all  my  fault,  and  everybody  ought  to  hate  me," 
sobbed  poor  Jill,  as  a  neighbor  left  the  room  after 
reporting  in  a  minute  manner  how  Jack  screamed  when 
his  leg  was  set,  and  how  Frank  was  found  white  as  a 
sheet,  with  his  head  under  the  pump,  while  Gus  re 
stored  the  tone  of  his  friend's  nerves,  by  pumping  as  if 
the  house  was  on  fire. 

"Whist,  my  lass,  and  go  to  sleep.  Take  a  sup  of 
the  good  wine  Mrs.  Minot  sent,  for  you  are  as  cold  as 
a  clod,  and  it  breaks  my  heart  to  see  my  Janey  so." 


14  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  I  can't  go  to  sleep  ;  I  don't  see  how  Jack's  mother 
could  send  me  anything  when  I  ?ve  half  killed  him.  I 
want  to  be  cold  and  ache  and  have  horrid  things  done 
to  me.  Oh,  if  I  ever  get  out  of  this  bed  I  '11  be  the 
best  girl  in  the  world,  to  pay  for  this.  See  if  I  ain't !  " 
and  Jill  gave  such  a  decided  nod  that  her  tears  flew  all 
about  the  pillow  like  a  shower. 

"  You  'd  better  begin  at  once,  for  you  won't  get  out 
of  that  bed  for  a  long  while,  I  'm  afraid,  my  lamb," 
sighed  her  mother,  unable  to  conceal  the  anxiety  that 
lay  so  heavy  on  her  heart. 

"  Am  I  hurt  badly,  Mammy  ?  " 

"  I  fear  it,  lass." 

"  I  'm  glad  of  it ;  I  ought  to  be  worse  than  Jack,  and 
I  hope  I  am.  I  '11  bear  it  well,  and  be  good  right 
away.  Sing,  Mammy,  and  I  '11  try  to  go  to  sleep  to 
please  you." 

Jill  shut  her  eyes  with  sudden  and  unusual  meekness, 
and  before  her  mother  had  crooned  half  a  dozen  verses 
of  an  old  ballad,  the  little  black  head  lay  still  upon  the 
pillow,  and  repentant  Jill  was  fast  asleep  with  a  red 
mitten  in  her  hand. 

Mrs.  Pecq  was  an  Englishwoman  who  had  left  Mon 
treal  at  the  death  of  her  husband,  a  French  Canadian, 
and  had  come  to  live  in  the  tiny  cottage  which  stood 
near  Mrs.  Minot's  big  house,  separated  only  by  an 
arbor-vitae  hedge.  A  sad,  silent  person,  who  had  seen 
better  days,  but  said  nothing  about  them,  and  earned 
her  bread  by  sewing,  nursing,  work  in  the  factory,  or 
anything  that  came  in  her  way,  being  anxious  to  educate 
her  little  girl.  Now,  as  she  sat  beside  the  bed  in  the 
small,  poor  room,  that  hope  almost  died  within  her,  for 
here  was  the  child  laid  up  for  months,  probably,  and 


TWO  PENITENTS.  15 

the  one  ambition  and  pleasure  of  the  solitary  woman's 
life  was  to  see  Janey  Pecq's  name  over  all  the  high 
marks  in  the  school-reports  she  proudly  brought  home. 

"  She  '11  win  through,  please  Heaven,  and  I  '11  see  my 
lass  a  gentlewoman  yet,  thanks  to  the  good  friend  in 
yonder,  who  will  never  let  her  want  for  care,"  thought 
the  poor  soul,  looking  out  into  the  gloom  where  a  long 
ray  of  light  streamed  from  the  great  house  warm  and 
comfortable  upon  the  cottage,  like  the  spirit  of  kind 
ness  which  made  the  inmates  friends  and  neighbors. 

Meantime,  that  other  mother  sat  by  her  boy's  bed  as 
anxious  but  with  better  hope,  for  Mrs.  Minot  made 
trouble  sweet  and  helpful  by  the  way  in  which  she  bore 
it ;  and  her  boys  were  learning  of  her  how  to  find  silver 
linings  to  the  clouds  that  must  come  into  the  bluest  skies. 

Jack  lay  wide  awake,  with  hot  cheeks,  and  throbbing 
head,  and  all  sorts  of  queer  sensations  in  the  broken 
leg.  The  soothing  potion  he  had  taken  did  not  affect 
him  yet,  and  he  tried  to  beguile  the  weary  time  by 
wondering  who  came  and  went  below.  Gentle  rings  at 
the  front  door,  and  mysterious  tappings  at  the  back, 
had  been  going  on  all  the  evening ;  for  the  report  of  the 
accident  had  grown  astonishingly  in  its  travels,  and  at 
eight  o'clock  the  general  belief  was  that  Jack  had 
broken  both  legs,  fractured  his  skull,  and  lay  at  the 
point  of  death,  while  Jill  had  dislocated  one  shoulder, 
and  was  bruised  black  and  blue  from  top  to  toe.  Such 
being  the  case,  it  is  no  wonder  that  anxious  playmates 
and  neighbors  haunted  the  doorsteps  of  the  two  houses, 
and  that  offers  of  help  poured  in. 

Frank,  having  tied  up  the  bell  and  put  a  notice  in 
the  lighted  side-window,  saying,  "Go  to  the  back 
door,"  sat  in  the  parlor,  supported  by  his  chum,  Gus, 


16  JACK  AND  JILL. 

while  Ed  played  softly  on  the  piano,  hoping  to  lull 
Jack  to  sleep.  It  did  soothe  him,  for  a  very  sweet 
friendship  existed  between  the  tall  youth  and  the  lad 
of  thirteen.  Ed  went  with  the  big  fellows,  but  always 
had  a  kind  word  for  the  smaller  boys ;  and  affection 
ate  Jack,  never  ashamed  to  show  his  love,  was  often 
seen  with  his  arm  round  Ed's  shoulder,  as  they  sat 
together  in  the  pleasant  red  parlors,  where  all  the 
young  people  were  welcome  and  Frank  was  king. 

"Is  the  pain  any  easier,  my  darling?"  asked  Mrs. 
Minot,  leaning  over  the  pillow,  where  the  golden  head 
lay  quiet  for  a  moment. 

"Not  much.  I  forget  it  listening  to  the  music. 
Dear  old  Ed  is  playing  all  my  favorite  tunes,  and  it  is 
very  nice.  I  guess  he  feels  pretty  sorry  about  me." 

"They  all  do.  Frank  could  not  talk  of  it.  Gus 
wouldn't  go  home  to  tea,  he  was  so  anxious  to  do 
something  for  us.  Joe  brought  back  the  bits  of  your 
poor  sled,  because  he  did  n't  like  to  leave  them  lying 
round  for  any  one  to  carry  off,  he  said,  and  you  might 
like  them  to  remember  your  fall  by." 

Jack  tried  to  laugh,  but  it  was  rather  a  failure, 
though  he  managed  to  say,  cheerfully,  — 

"  That  was  good  of  old  Joe.  I  would  n't  lend  him 
4  Thunderbolt '  for  fear  he  'd  hurt  it.  Could  n't  have 
smashed  it  up  better  than  I  did,  could  he  ?  Don't 
think  I  want  any  pieces  to  remind  me  of  that  fall.  I 
just  wish  you'd  seen  us,  mother  !  It  must  have  been  a 
splendid  spill,  —  to  look  at,  any  way." 

"  No,  thank  you ;  I  'd  rather  not  even  try  to  imagine 
my  precious  boy  going  heels  aver  head  down  that 
dreadful  hill.  No  more  pranks  of  that  sort  for  some 
time,  Jacky ; "  and  Mrs.  Minot  looked  rather  pleased  on 


TWO  PENITENTS.  IT 

the  whole  to  have  her  venturesome  bird  safe  under  her 
maternal  wing. 

"  No  coasting  till  some  time  in  January.  What  a 
fool  I  was  to  do  it !  Go-bangs  always  are  dangerous, 
and  that 's  the  fun  of  the  thing.  Oh  dear  !  " 

Jack  threw  his  arms  about  and  frowned  darkly,  but 
never  said  a  word  of  the  wilful  little  baggage  who  had 
led  him  into  mischief;  he  was  too  much  of  a  gentle 
man  to  tell  on  a  girl,  though  it  cost  him  an  effort  to 
hold  his  tongue,  because  Mamma's  good  opinion  was 
very  precious  to  him,  and  he  longed  to  explain.  She 
knew  all  about  it,  however,  for  Jill  had  been  carried 
into  the  house  reviling  herself  for  the  mishap,  and  even 
in  the  midst  of  her  own  anxiety  for  her  boy,  Mrs.  Minot 
understood  the  state  of  the  case  without  more  words. 
So  she  now  set  his  mind  at  rest  by  saying,  quietly,  — 

"  Foolish  fun,  as  you  see,  dear.  Another  time,  stand 
firm  and  help  Jill  to  control  her  headstrong  will. 
When  you  learn  to  yield  less  and  she  more,  there  will 
be  no  scrapes  like  this  to  try  us  all." 

"  I  '11  remember,  mother.  I  hate  not  to  be  obliging, 
but  I  guess  it  would  have  saved  us  lots  of  trouble  if 
I'd  said  No  in  the  beginning.  I  tried  to,  but  she 
ivould  go.  Poor  Jill !  I  '11  take  better  care  of  her 
next  time.  Is  she  very  ill,  Mamma  ?  " 

"I  can  tell  you  better  to-morrow.  She  does  not 
suffer  much,  and  we  hope  there  is  no  great  harm  done." 

"  I  wish  she  had  a  nice  place  like  this  to  be  sick  in. 
It  must  be  very  poky  in  those  little  rooms,"  said  Jack, 
as  his  eye  roved  round  the  large  chamber  where  he 
lay  so  cosey,  warm,  and  pleasant,  with  the  gay  chintz 
curtains  draping  doors  and  windows,  the  rosy  carpet, 
comfortable  chairs,  and  a  fire  glowing  in  the  grate. 


18  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"I  shall  see  that  she  suffers  for  nothing,  so  don't 
trouble  your  kind  heart  about  her  to-night,  but  try  to 
sleep;  that's  what  you  need,"  answered  his  mother, 
wetting  the  bandage  on  his  forehead,  and  putting  a 
cool  hand  on  the  flushed  cheeks. 

Jack  obediently  closed  his  eyes  and  listened  while 
the  boys  sang  "The  Sweet  By  and  By,"  softening 
their  rough  young  voices  for  his  sake  till  the  music  was 
as  soft  as  a  lullaby.  He  lay  so  still  his  mother  thought 
he  was  off,  but  presently  a  tear  slipped  out  and  rolled 
down  the  red  cheek,  wetting  her  hand  as  it  passed. 

"  My  blessed  boy,  what  is  it  ?  "  she  whispered,  with  a 
touch  and  a  tone  that  only  mothers  have. 

The  blue  eyes  opened  wide,  and  Jack's  own  sun 
shiny  smile  broke  through  the  tears  that  filled  them  as 
he  said  with  a  sniff,  — 

"  Everybody  is  so  good  to  me  I  can't  help  making  a 
noodle  of  myself." 

"  You  are  not  a  noodle !  "  cried  Mamma,  resenting 
the  epithet.  "  One  of  the  sweet  things  about  pain  and 
sorrow  is  that  they  show  us  how  well  we  are  loved, 
how  much  kindness  there  is  in  the  world,  and  how 
easily  we  can  make  others  happy  in  the  same  way 
when  they  need  help  and  sympathy.  Don't  forget 
that,  little  son." 

"Don't  see  how  I  can,  with  you  to  show  me  how 
nice  it  is.  Kiss  me  good-night,  and  then  '  I  '11  be 
good,'  as  Jill  says." 

Nestling  his  head  upon  his  mother's  arm,  Jack  lay 
quiet  till,  lulled  by  the  music  of  his  mates,  he  drowsed 
away  into  the  dreamless  sleep  which  is  Nurse  Na 
ture's  healthiest  soothing  sirup  for  weary  souls  and 
bodies. 


CHAPTER  III. 

WARD  NO.   1. 

some  days,  nothing  was  seen  and  little  was 
heard  of  the  "dear  sufferers,"  as  the  old  ladies 
called  them.  But  they  were  not  forgotten ;  the  first 
words  uttered  when  any  of  the  young  people  met 
were  :  "  How  is  Jack  ?  "  "  Seen  Jill  yet  ?  "  and  all 
waited  with  impatience  for  the  moment  when  they 
could  be  admitted  to  their  favorite  mates,  more  than 
ever  objects  of  interest  now. 

Meantime,  the  captives  spent  the  first  few  days  in 
sleep,  pain,  and  trying  to  accept  the  hard  fact  that 
school  and  play  were  done  with  for  months  perhaps. 
But  young  spirits  are  wonderfully  elastic  and  soon 
cheer  up,  and  healthy  young  bodies  heal  fast,  or  easily 
adapt  themselves  to  new  conditions.  So  our  invalids 
began  to  mend  on  the  fourth  day,  and  to  drive  their 
nurses  distracted  with  efforts  to  amuse  them,  before 
the  first  week  was  over. 

The  most  successful  attempt  originated  in  Ward 
No.  1,  as  Mrs.  Minot  called  Jack's  apartment,  and  we 
will  give  our  sympathizing  readers  some  idea  of  this 
place,  which  became  the  stage  whereon  were  enacted 
many  varied  and  remarkable  scenes. 

Each  of  the  Minot  boys  had  his  own  room,  and  there 


20  JACK  AND  JILL. 

collected  his  own  treasures  and  trophies,  arranged  to 
suit  his  convenience  and  taste.  Frank's  was  full  of 
books,  maps,  machinery,  chemical  messes,  and  geo 
metrical  drawings,  which  adorned  the  walls  like  in 
tricate  cobwebs.  A  big  chair,  where  he  read  and 
studied  with  his  heels  higher  than  his  head,  a  basket 
of  apples  for  refreshment  at  all  hours  of  the  day  or 
night,  and  an  immense  inkstand,  in  which  several  pens 
were  always  apparently  bathing  their  feet,  were  the 
principal  ornaments  of  his  scholastic  retreat. 

Jack's  hobby  was  athletic  sports,  for  he  was  bent  on 
having  a  strong  and  active  body  for  his  happy  little  soul 
to  live  and  enjoy  itself  in.  So  a  severe  simplicity 
reigned  in  his  apartment ;  in  summer,  especially,  for 
then  his  floor  was  bare,  his  windows  were  uncurtained, 
and  the  chairs  uncushioned,  the  bed  being  as  narrow 
and  hard  as  Napoleon's.  The  only  ornaments  were 
dumb-bells,  whips,  bats,  rods,  skates,  boxing-gloves,  a 
big  bath-pan  and  a  small  library,  consisting  chiefly  of 
books  on  games,  horses,  health,  hunting,  and  travels. 
In  winter  his  mother  made  things  more  comfortable 
by  introducing  rugs,  curtains,  and  a  fire.  Jack,  also, 
relented  slightly  in  the  severity  of  his  training,  occa 
sionally  indulging  in  the  national  buckwheat  cake, 
instead  of  the  prescribed  oatmeal  porridge,  for  break 
fast,  omitting  his  cold  bath  when  the  thermometer  was 
below  zero,  and  dancing  at  night,  instead  of  running  a 
given  distance  by  day. 

Now,  however,  he  was  a  helpless  captive,  given  over 
to  all  sorts  of  coddling,  laziness,  and  luxury,  and  there 
was  a  droll  mixture  of  mirth  and  melancholy  in  his 
face,  as  he  lay  trussed  up  in  bed,  watching  the  com 
forts  which  had  suddenly  robbed  his  room  of  its  Spar- 


WARD  NO.   1.  21 

tan  simplicity.  A  delicious  couch  was  there,  with 
Frank  reposing  in  its  depths,  half  hidden  under  sev 
eral  folios  which  he  was  consulting  for  a  history  of  the 
steam-engine,  the  subject  of  his  next  composition. 

A  white-covered  table  stood  near,  with  all  manner 
of  dainties  set  forth  in  a  way  to  tempt  the  sternest 
principles.  Vases  of  flowers  bloomed  on  the  chimney- 
piece,  —  gifts  from  anxious  young  ladies,  left  with 
their  love.  Frivolous  story-books  and  picture-papers 
strewed  the  bed,  now  shrouded  in  effeminate  chintz 
curtains,  beneath  which  Jack  lay  like  a  wounded  war 
rior  in  his  tent.  But  the  saddest  sight  for  our  crippled 
athlete  was  a  glimpse,  through  a  half-opened  door,  at 
the  beloved  dumb-bells,  bats,  balls,  boxing-gloves,  and 
snow-shoes,  all  piled  ignominiously  away  in  the  bath- 
pan,  mournfully  recalling  the  fact  that  their  day  was 
over,  now,  at  least  for  some  time. 

He  was  about  to  groan  dismally,  when  his  eye  fell 
on  a  sight  which  made  him  swallow  the  groan,  and 
cough  instead,  as  if  it  choked  him  a  little.  The  sight 
was  his  mother's  face,  as  she  sat  in  a  low  chair  rolling 
bandages,  with  a  basket  beside  her  in  which  were  piles 
of  old  linen,  lint,  plaster,  and  other  matters,  needed 
for  the  dressing  of  wounds.  As  he  looked,  Jack  re 
membered  how  steadily  and  tenderly  she  had  stood 
by  him  all  through  the  hard  times  just  past,  and  how 
carefully  she  had  bathed  and  dressed  his  wound  each 
day  in  spite  of  the  effort  it  cost  her  to  give  him  pain 
or  even  see  him  suffer. 

"  That  's  a  better  sort  of  strength  than  swinging 
twenty-pound  dumb-bells  or  running  races;  I  guess 
I  '11  try  for  that  kind,  too,  and  not  howl  or  let  her  see 
me  squirm  when  the  doctor  hurts,"  thought  the  boy, 


22  JACK  AND  JILL. 

as  he  saw  that  gentle  face  so  pale  and  tired  with  much 
watching  and  anxiety,  yet  so  patient,  serene,  and  cheer 
ful,  that  it  was  like  sunshine. 

"  Lie  down  and  take  a  good  nap,  mother  dear,  I  feel 
first-rate,  and  Frank  can  see  to  me  if  I  want  anything. 
Do,  now,"  he  added,  with  a  persuasive  nod  toward  the 
couch,  and  a  boyish  relish  in  stirring  up  his  lazy 
brother. 

After  some  urging,  Mamma  consented  to  go  to  her 
room  for  forty  winks,  leaving  Jack  in  the  care  of 
Frank,  begging  him  to  be  as  quiet  as  possible  if  the 
dear  boy  wished  to  sleep,  and  to  amuse  him  if  he  did 
not. 

Being  worn  out,  Mrs.  Minot  lengthened  her  forty 
winks  into  a  three  hours'  nap,  and  as  the  "  dear  boy  " 
scorned  repose,  Mr.  Frank  had  his  hands  full  while  on 
guard. 

"  I  '11  read  to  you.  Here  's  Watt,  Arkwright,  Ful 
ton,  and  a  lot  of  capital  fellows,  with  pictures  that  will 
do  your  heart  good.  Have  a  bit,  will  you?"  asked 
the  new  nurse,  flapping  the  leaves  invitingly,  —  for 
Frank  had  a  passion  for  such  things,  and  drew  steam- 
engines  all  over  his  slate,  as  Tommy  Traddles  drew 
hosts  of  skeletons  when  low  in  his  spirits. 

"  I  don't  want  any  of  your  old  boilers  and  stokers 
and  whirligigs.  I  'm  tired  of  reading,  and  want  some 
thing  regularly  jolly,"  answered  Jack,  who  had  been 
chasing  white  buffaloes  with  "The  Hunters  of  the 
West,"  till  he  was  a  trifle  tired  and  fractious. 

"Play  cribbage,  euchre,  anything  you  like;"  and 
Frank  obligingly  disinterred  himself  from  under  the 
folios,  feeling  that  it  was  hard  for  a  fellow  to  lie  flat  a 
whole  week. 


WARD  NO.   1.  23 

"No  fun;  just  two  of  us.  Wish  school  was  over, 
so  the  boys  would  come  in ;  doctor  said  I  might  see 
them  now." 

"  They  '11  be  along  by  and  by,  and  I  '11  hail  them. 
Till  then,  what  shall  we  do  ?  I  'm  your  man  for  any 
thing,  only  put  a  name  to  it." 

"  Just  wish  I  had  a  telegraph  or  a  telephone,  so  I 
could  talk  to  Jill.  Would  n't  it  be  fun  to  pipe  across 
and  get  an  answer  !  " 

"  I  '11  make  either  you  say ; "  and  Frank  looked  as  if 
trifles  of  that  sort  were  to  be  had  for  the  asking. 
"Could  you,  really?" 

"  We  '11  start  the  telegraph  first,  then  you  can  send 
things  over  if  you  like,"  said  Frank,  prudently  propos 
ing  the  surest  experiment. 

"  Go  ahead,  then.  I  'd  like  that,  and  so  would  Jill, 
for  I  know  she  wants  to  hear  from  me." 

"  There  's  one  trouble,  though  ;  I  shall  have  to  leave 
you  alone  for  a  few  minutes  while  I  rig  up  the  ropes ;" 
and  Frank  looked  sober,  for  he  was  a  faithful  boy,  and 
did  not  want  to  desert  his  post. 

"Oh,  never  mind  ;  I  won't  want  anything.  If  I  do, 
I  can  pound  for  Ann." 

"  And  wake  mother.  I  '11  fix  you  a  better  way  than 
that;"  and,  full  of  inventive  genius,  our  young  Edison 
spliced  the  poker  to  part  of  a  fishing-rod  in  a  jiffy, 
making  a  long-handled  hook  which  reached  across  the 
room. 

"  There  's  an  arm  for  you ;  now  hook  away,  and  let 's 
see  how  it  works,"  he  said,  handing  over  the  instru 
ment  to  Jack,  who  proceeded  to  show  its  unexpected 
capabilities  by  hooking  the  cloth  off  the  table  in 
attempting  to  get  his  handkerchief,  catching  Frank 


24  JACK  AND  JILL. 

by  the  hair  when  fishing  for  a  book,  and  breaking  a 
pane  of  glass  in  trying  to  draw  down  the  curtain. 

"  It 's  so  everlasting  long,  I  can't  manage  it,"  laughed 
Jack,  as  it  finally  caught  in  his  bed-hangings,  and  nearly 
pulled  them,  ring  and  all,  down  upon  his  head. 

"  Let  it  alone,  unless  you  need  something  very  much, 
and  don't  bother  about  the  glass.  It 's  just  what  we 
want  for  the  telegraph  wire  or  rope  to  go  through. 
Keep  still,  and  I  '11  have  the  thing  running  in  ten  min 
utes  ; "  and,  delighted  with  the  job,  Frank  hurried  away, 
leaving  Jack  to  compose  a  message  to  send  as  soon  as 
it  was  possible. 

"  What  in  the  world  is  that  flying  across  the  Minots' 
yard,  —  a  brown  hen  or  a  boy's  kite  ?  "  exclaimed  old 
Miss  Hopkins,  peering  out  of  her  window  at  the  singu 
lar  performances  going  on  in  her  opposite  neighbor's 
garden. 

First,  Frank  appeared  with  a  hatchet  and  chopped 
a  clear  space  in  the  hedge  between  his  own  house  and 
the  cottage  ;  next,  a  clothes  line  was  passed  through 
this  aperture  and  fastened  somewhere  on  the  other 
side ;  lastly,  a  small  covered  basket,  slung  on  this 
rope,  was  seen  hitching  along,  drawn  either  way  by  a 
set  of  strings  ;  then,  as  if  satisfied  with  his  job,  Frank 
retired,  whistling  "  Hail  Columbia." 

"  It 's  those  children  at  their  pranks  again.  I  thought 
broken  bones  would  n't  keep  them  out  of  mischief  long," 
said  the  old  lady,  watching  with  great  interest  the  mys 
terious  basket  travelling  up  and  down  the  rope  from 
the  big  house  to  the  cottage. 

If  she  had  seen  what  came  and  went  over  the  wires 
of  the  "  Great  International  Telegraph,"  she  would 
have  laughed  till  her  spectacles  flew  off  her  Roman 


WARD  NO.   1.  25 

nose.     A  letter  from  Jack,  with  a  large  orange,  went 
first,  explaining  the  new  enterprise  :  — 

"  DEAR  JILL,  —  It 's  too  bad  you  can't  come  over  to  see  me.  I 
am  pretty  well,  but  awful  tired  of  keeping  still.  I  want  to  see  you 
ever  so  much.  Frank  has  fixed  us  a  telegraph,  so  we  can  write 
and  send  things.  Won't  it  be  jolly  !  I  can't  look  out  to  see  him 
do  it ;  but,  when  you  pull  your  string,  my  little  bell  rings,  and  I 
know  a  message  is  coming.  I  send  you  an  orange.  Do  you  like 
gorver  jelly  ?  People  send  in  lots  of  goodies,  and  we  will  go  halves. 
Good-by.  JACK." 

Away  went  the  basket,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  it 
came  back  from  the  cottage  with  nothing  in  it  but  the 
orange. 

"  Hullo  !  is  she  mad  ?  "  asked  Jack,  as  Frank  brought 
the  despatch  for  him  to  examine. 

But,  at  the  first  touch,  the  hollow  peel  opened,  and 
out  fell  a  letter,  two  gum-drops,  and  an  owl  made  of  a 
pea-nut,  with  round  eyes  drawn  at  the  end  where  the 
stem  formed  a  funny  beak.  Two  bits  of  straw  were 
the  legs,  and  the  face  looked  so  like  Dr.  Whiting  that 
both  boys  laughed  at  the  sight. 

"  That 's  so  like  Jill ;  she  'd  make  fun  if  she  wras  half 
dead.  Let's  see  what  she  says;"  and  Jack  read  the 
little  note,  which  showed  a  sad  neglect  of  the  spelling- 
book  :  — 

"  DEAR  JACKT,  —  I  can't  stir  and  it 's  horrid.  The  telly  graf  is 
very  nice  and  we  will  have  fun  with  it.  I  never  ate  any  gorver 
jelly.  The  orange  was  first  rate.  Send  me  a  book  to  read.  All 
about  bears  and  ships  and  crockydiles.  The  doctor  was  coming 
to  see  you,  so  I  sent  him  the  quickest  way.  Molly  Loo  says  it  is 
dreadful  lonesome  at  school  without  us.  —  Yours  truly, 

"  JILL." 

Jack  immediately  despatched  the  book  and  a  sample 
of  guava  jelly,  which  unfortunately  upset  on  the  way, 


26  JACK  AND  JILL. 

to  the  great  detriment  of  "  The  Wild  Beasts  of  Asia 
and  Africa."  Jill  promptly  responded  with  the  loan 
of  a  tiny  black  kitten,  who  emerged  spitting  and 
scratching,  to  Jack's  great  delight ;  and  he  was  cudgel 
ling  his  brains  as  to  how  a  fat  white  rabbit  could  be 
transported,  when  a  shrill  whistle  from  without  saved 
Jill  from  that  inconvenient  offering. 

"  It 's  the  fellows  ;  do  you  want  to  see  them  ?  "  asked 
Frank,  gazing  down  with  calm  superiority  upon  the 
three  eager  faces  which  looked  up  at  him. 

"  Guess  I  do  !  "  and  Jack  promptly  threw  the  kitten 
overboard,  scorning  to  be  seen  by  any  manly  eye  amus 
ing  himself  with  such  girlish  toys. 

Bang  !  went  the  front  door ;  tramp,  tramp>  tramp, 
came  six  booted  feet  up  the  stairs ;  and,  as  Frank  threw 
wide  the  door,  three  large  beings  paused  on  the  thresh 
old  to  deliver  the  courteous  "  Hullo ! "  which  is  the 
established  greeting  among  boys  on  all  social  occasions. 

"  Come  along,  old  fellows  ;  I  'm  ever  so  glad  to  see 
you  ! "  cried  the  invalid,  with  such  energetic  demonstra 
tions  of  the  arms  that  he  looked  as  if  about  to  fly  or 
crow,  like  an  excited  young  cockerel. 

"  How  are  you,  Major  ?  " 

"  Does  the  leg  ache  much,  Jack  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Phipps  says  you  '11  have  to  pay  for  the  ne\v 
rails." 

With  these  characteristic  greetings,  the  gentlemen 
cast  away  their  hats  and  sat  down,  all  grinning  cheer 
fully,  and  all  with  eyes  irresistibly  fixed  upon  the  dain 
ties,  which  proved  too  much  for  the  politeness  of  ever- 
hungry  boys. 

"  Help  yourselves,"  said  Jack,  with  a  hospitable 
wave.  *'  All  the  dear  old  ladies  in  town  have  been 


WARD  NO.   1.  27 

sending  in  nice  things,  and  I  can't  begin  to  eat  them 
up.  Lend  a  hand  and  clear  away  this  lot,  or  we  shall 
have  to  throw  them  out  of  the  window.  Bring  on  the 
doughnuts  and  the  tarts  and  the  shaky  stuff  in  the 
entry  closet,  Frank,  and  let 's  have  a  lark." 

No  sooner  said  than  done.  Gus  took  the  tarts,  Joe 
the  doughnuts,  Ed  the  jelly,  and  Frank  suggested 
"  spoons  all  round "  for  the  Italian  cream.  A  few 
trifles  in  the  way  of  custard,  fruit,  and  wafer  biscuits 
were  not  worth  mentioning ;  but  every  dish  was  soon 
emptied,  and  Jack  said,  as  he  surveyed  the  scene  of 
devastation  with  great  satisfaction,  — 

"  Call  again  to-morrow,  gentlemen,  and  we  will 
have  another  bout.  Free  lunches  at  5  P.M.  till  further 
notice.  Now  tell  me  all  the  news." 

For  half  an  hour,  five  tongues  went  like  mill  clap 
pers,  and  there  is  no  knowing  when  they  would  have 
stopped  if  the  little  bell  had  not  suddenly  rung  with  a 
violence  that  made  them  jump. 

"That's  Jill;  see  what  she  wants,  Frank;"  and 
while  his  brother  sent  off  the  basket,  Jack  told  about, 
the  new  invention,  and  invited  his  mates  to  examine 
and  admire. 

They  did  so,  and  shouted  with  merriment  when  the 
next  despatch  from  Jill  arrived.  A  pasteboard  jump- 
ing-jack,  with  one  leg  done  up  in  cotton-wool  to  pre~ 
serve  the  likeness,  and  a  great  lump  of  molasses  candy 
in  a  brown  paper,  with  accompanying  note  :  — 

"  DEAR  Sin,  —  I  saw  the  bc^s  go  in,  and  know  you  are  having  a 
nice  time,  so  I  send  over  the  candy  Molly  Loo  and  Merry  brought 
me.  Mammy  says  I  can't  eat  it,  and  it  will  all  melt  away  if  I  keep 
it.  Also  a  picture  of  Jack  Minot,  who  will  dance  on  one  leg  and 
waggle  the  other,  and  make  you  laugh.  I  wish  I  could  come,  too. 
Don't  you  hate  grewel  ?  I  do.  —  In  haste,  J.  P." 


28  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"Let  's  all  send  her  a  letter,"  proposed  Jack,  and 
out  came  pens,  ink,  paper,  and  the  lamp,  and  every 
one  fell  to  scribbling.  A  droll  collection  was  the 
result,  for  Frank  drew  a  picture  of  the  fatal  fall  with 
broken  rails  flying  in  every  direction,  Jack  with  his 
head  swollen  to  the  size  of  a  balloon,  and  Jill  in  two 
pieces,  while  the  various  boys  and  girls  were  hit  off 
with  a  sly  skill  that  gave  Gus  legs  like  a  stork,  Molly 
Loo  hair  several  yards  long,  and  Boo  a  series  of  visible 
howls  coming  out  of  an  immense  mouth  in  the  shape 
of  o's.  The  oxen  were  particularly  good,  for  their 
horns  branched  like  those  of  the  moose,  and  Mr.  Grant 
had  a  patriarchal  beard  which  waved  in  the  breeze  as 
he  bore  the  wounded  girl  to  a  sled  very  like  a  funeral 
pyre,  the  stakes  being  crowned  with  big  mittens  like 
torches. 

"You  ought  to  be  an  artist.  I  never  saw  such  a 
dabster  as  you  are.  That  's  the  very  moral  of  Joe,  all 
in  a  bunch  on  the  fence,  with  a  blot  to  show  how  pur 
ple  his  nose  was,"  said  Gus,  holding  up  the  sketch  for 
general  criticism  and  admiration. 

"  I  'd  rather  have  a  red  nose  than  legs  like  a  grass 
hopper  ;  so  you  need  n't  twit,  Daddy,"  growled  Joe, 
quite  unconscious  that  a  blot  actually  did  adorn  his 
nose,  as  he  labored  over  a  brief  despatch. 

The  boys  enjoyed  the  joke,  and  one  after  the  other 
read  out  his  message  to  the  captive  lady :  — 

"  DEAR  JILL,  —  Sorry  you  ain't  here.  Great  fun.  Jack  pretty 
lively.  Laura  and  Lot  would  send  love  if  they  knew  of  the 
chance.  Fly  round  and  get  well.  Gus." 

"DEAR  GILLIFLOWER,  —  Hope  you  are  pretty  comfortable  in 
your  '  dungeon  cell.'  Would  you  like  a  serenade  when  the  moon 


WARD  NO.   1.  29 

comes  7  Hope  you  will  soon  be  up  again,  for  we  miss  you  very 
much.  Shall  be  very  happy  to  help  in  any  way  I  can.  Love  to 
your  mother.  Your  true  friend,  E.  D." 

"Miss  PECQ. 

"  Dear  Madam,  —  I  am  happy  to  tell  you  that  we  are  all  well,  and 
hope  you  are  the  same.  I  gave  Jem  Cox  a  licking  because  he 
went  to  your  desk.  You  had  better  send  for  your  books.  You 
won't  have  to  pay  for  the  sled  or  the  fence.  Jack  says  he  will  see 
to  it.  We  have  been  having  a  spread  over  here  First-rate  things. 
I  would  n't  mind  breaking  a  leg,  if  I  had  such  good  grub  and  no 
chores  to  do.  No  more  now,  from  yours,  witli  esteem, 

"JOSEPH  P.  FLINT." 

Joe  thought  that  an  elegant  epistle,  having  copied 
portions  of  it  from  the  "  Letter  Writer,"  and  proudly 
read  it  off  to  the  boys,  who  assured  him  that  Jill  would 
be  much  impressed. 

"  Now,  Jack,  hurry  up  and  let  us  send  the  lot  off,  for 
we  must  go,"  said  Gus,  as  Frank  put  the  letters  in  the 
basket,  and  the  clatter  of  tea-things  was  heard  below. 

"  I  'm  not  going  to  show  mine.  It 's  private  and  you 
must  n't  look,"  answered  Jack,  patting  down  an  enve 
lope  with  such  care  that  no  one  had  a  chance  to 
peep. 

But  Joe  had  seen  the  little  note  copied,  and  while 
the  others  were  at  the  window  working  the  telegraph 
he  caught  up  the  original,  carelessly  thrust  by  Jack 
under  the  pillow,  and  read  it  aloud  before  any  one 
knew  what  he  was  about. 

"My  DEAR, — I  wish  I  could  send  you  some  of  my  good  times. 
As  I  can't,  I  send  you  much  love,  and  I  hope  you  will  try  and  be 
patient  as  I  am  going  to,  for  it  was  our  fault,  and  we  must  not 
make  a  fuss  now.  Ain't  mothers  sweet  ?  Mine  is  coming  over 
to-morrow  to  see  you  and  tell  me  how  you  are.  This  round  thing 
is  a  kiss  for  good-night.  YOUR  JACK." 


30  JACK  AND   JILL. 

"  Is  n't  that  spoony  ?  You  'd  better  hide  your  face, 
I  think.  He  's  getting  to  be  a  regular  mollycoddle, 
isn't  he?"  jeered  Joe,  as  the  boys  laughed,  and  then 
grew  sober,  seeing  Jack's  head  buried  in  the  bed 
clothes,  after  sending  a  pillow  at  his  tormentor. 

It  nearly  hit  Mrs.  Minot,  coming  in  with  her  patient's 
tea  on  a  tray,  and  at  sight  of  her  the  guests  hurriedly 
took  leave,  Joe  nearly  tumbling  downstairs  to  escape 
from  Frank,  who  would  have  followed,  if  his  mother 
had  not  said  quickly, — 

"  Stay,  and  tell  me  what  is  the  matter." 

"  Only  teasing  Jack  a  bit.  Don't  be  mad,  old  boy, 
Joe  did  n't  mean  any  harm,  and  it  was  rather  soft, 
now  was  n't  it  ?  "  asked  Frank,  trying  to  appease  the 
wounded  feelings  of  his  brother. 

"I  charged  you  not  to  worry  him.  Those  boys  were 
too  much  for  the  poor  dear,  and  I  ought  not  to  have 
left  him,"  said  Mamma,  as  she  vainly  endeavored  to 
find  and  caress  the  yellow  head  burrowed  so  far  out  of 
sight  that  nothing  but  one  red  ear  was  visible. 

"  He  liked  it,  and  we  got  on  capitally  till  Joe 
roughed  him  about  Jill.  Ah,  Joe  's  getting  it  now ! 
I  thought  Gus  and  Ed  would  do  that  little  job  for  me," 
added  Frank,  running  to  the  window  as  the  sound  of 
stifled  cries  and  laughter  reached  him. 

The  red  ear  heard  also,  and  Jack  popped  up  his  head 
to  ask,  with  interest, — 

"  What  are  they  doing  to  him  ?  " 

"  Rolling  him  in  the  snow,  and  he  's  howling  like 
fun." 

"  Serves  him  right,"  muttered  Jack,  with  a  frown. 
Then,  as  a  wail  arose  suggestive  of  an  unpleasant  mix 
ture  of  snow  in  the  mouth  and  thumps  on  the  back,  he 


WARD  NO.   1.  31 

burst  out  laughing,  and  said,  good-naturedly,  "  Go  and 
stop  them,  Frank ;  I  won't  mind,  only  tell  him  it  was 
a  mean  trick.  Hurry  !  Gus  is  so  strong  he  does  n't 
know  how  his  pounding  hurts." 

Off  ran  Frank,  and  Jack  told  his  wrongs  to  his 
mother.  She  sympathized  heartily,  and  saw  no  harm 
in  the  affectionate  little  note,  which  would  please  Jill, 
and  help  her  to  bear  her  trials  patiently. 

"  It  is  n't  silly  to  be  fond  of  her,  is  it  ?  She  is  so 
nice  and  funny,  and  tries  to  be  good,  and  likes  me,  and 
I  won't  be  ashamed  of  my  friends,  if  folks  do  laugh," 
protested  Jack,  with  a  rap  of  his  teaspoon. 

"No,  dear,  it  is  quite  kind  and  proper,  and  I  'd  rather 
have  you  play  with  a  merry  little  girl  than  with  rough 
boys  till  you  are  big  enough  to  hold  your  own," 
answered  Mamma,  putting  the  cup  to  his  lips  that  the 
reclining  lad  might  take  his  broma  without  spilling. 

"Pooh  !  I  don't  mean  that ;  I  'm  strong  enough  now 
to  take  care  of  myself,"  cried  Jack,  stoutly.  "  I  can 
thrash  Joe  any  day,  if  I  like.  Just  look  at  my  arm ; 
there  's  muscle  for  you  !  "  and  up  went  a  sleeve,  to  the 
great  danger  of  overturning  the  tray,  as  the  boy 
proudly  displayed  his  biceps  and  expanded  his  chest, 
both  of  which  were  very  fine  for  a  lad  of  his  years. 
"  If  I  'd  been  on  my  legs,  he  would  n't  have  dared  to 
insult  me,  and  it  was  cowardly  to  hit  a  fellow  when  he 
was  down." 

Mrs.  Minot  wanted  to  laugh  at  Jack's  indignation, 
but  the  bell  rang,  and  she  had  to  go  and  pull  in  the 
basket,  much  amused  at  the  new  game. 

Burning  to  distinguish  herself  in  the  eyes  of  the  big 
boys,  Jill  had  sent  over  a  tall,  red  flannel  night-cap, 
which  she  had  been  making  for  some  proposed  Christ- 


32  JACK  AND  JILL. 

mas  plays,  and  added  the  following  verse,  for  she  was 
considered  a  gifted  rhymester  at  the  game  parties :  — 

"  When  it  comes  night, 
We  put  out  the  light. 
Some  blow  with  a  puff, 
Some  turn  down  and  snuff  ; 
But  neat  folks  prefer 
A  nice  extinguisher. 
So  here  I  send  you  back 
One  to  put  on  Mr.  Jack." 

"  Now,  I  call  that  regularly  smart ;  not  one  of  us 
could  do  it,  and  I  just  wish  Joe  was  here  to  see  it.  I 
want  to  send  once  more,  something  good  for  tea ; 
she  hates  gruelso  ;"  and  the  last  despatch  which  the 
Great  International  Telegraph  carried  that  day  was  a 
baked  apple  and  a  warm  muffin,  with  "  J.  M.'s  best 
regards." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

WARD  NO.  2. 

THINGS  were  not  so  gay  in  Ward  No.  2,  for  Mrs. 
Pecq  was  very  busy,  and  Jill  had  nothing  to 
amuse  her  but  flying  visits  from  the  girls,  and  such 
little  plays  as  she  could  invent  for  herself  in  bed. 
Fortunately,  she  had  a  lively  fancy,  and  so  got  on 
pretty  well,  till  keeping  still  grew  unbearable,  and  the 
active  child  ached  in  even7  limb  to  be  up  and  out. 
That,  however,  was  impossible,  for  the  least  attempt 
to  sit  or  stand  brought  on  the  pain  that  took  her 
breath  away  and  made  her  glad  to  lie  flat  again.  The 
doctor  spoke  cheerfully,  but  looked  sober,  and  Mrs. 
Pecq  began  to  fear  that  Janey  was  to  be  a  cripple  for 
life.  She  said  nothing,  but  Jill's  quick  eyes  saw  an 
added  trouble  in  the  always  anxious  face,  and  it  de 
pressed  her  spirits,  though  she  never  guessed  half  the 
mischief  the  fall  had  done. 

The  telegraph  was  a  great  comfort,  and  the  two  in 
valids  kept  up  a  lively  correspondence,  not  to  say  traffic 
in  light  articles,  for  the  Great  International  was  the 
only  aerial  express  in  existence.  But  even  this  amuse 
ment  flagged  after  a  time  ;  neither  had  much  to  tell,  and 
when  the  daily  health  bulletins  had  been  exchanged, 
messages  gave  out,  and  the  basket's  travels  grew 

8 


34  JACK  AND  JILL. 

more  and  more  infrequent.  Neither  could  read  all  the 
time,  games  were  soon  used  up,  their  mates  were  at 
school  most  of  the  day,  and  after  a  week  or  two  the 
poor  children  began  to  get  pale  and  fractious  with  the 
confinement,  always  so  irksome  to  young  people. 

"  I  do  believe  the  child  will  fret  herself  into  a  fever, 
mem,  and  I  'm  clean  distraught  to  Know  what  to  do 
for  her.  She  never  used  to  mind  trifles,  but  now  she 
frets  about  the  oddest  things,  and  I  can't  change  them. 
This  wall-paper  is  well  enough,  but  she  has  taken  a 
fancy  that  the  spots  on  it  look  like  spiders,  and  it 
makes  her  nervous.  I  Ve  no  other  warm  place  to  put 
her,  and  no  money  for  a  new  paper.  Poor  lass  !  there 
are  hard  times  before  her,  I  'm  fearing." 

Mrs.  Pecq  said  this  in  a  low  voice  to  Mrs.  Minot, 
who  came  in  as  often  as  she  could,  to  see  what  her 
neighbor  needed  ;  for  both  mothers  were  anxious,  and 
sympathy  drew  them  to  one  another.  While  one 
woman  talked,  the  other  looked  about  the  little  room, 
not  wondering  in  the  least  that  Jill  found  it  hard  to 
be  contented  there.  It  was  very  neat,  but  so  plain 
that  there  was  not  even  a  picture  on  the  walls,  nor  an 
ornament  upon  the  mantel,  except  the  necessary  clock, 
lamp,  and  match-box.  The  paper  was  ugly,  being  a 
deep  buff  with  a  brown  figure  that  did  look  very  like 
spiders  sprawling  over  it,  and  might  well  make  one 
nervous  to  look  at  day  after  day. 

Jill  was  asleep  in  the  folding  chair  Dr.  Whiting  had 
sent,  with  a  mattress  to  make  it  soft.  The  back  could 
be  raised  or  lowered  at  will ;  but  only  a  few  inches  had 
been  gained  as  yet,  and  the  thin  hair  pillow  was  all  she 
could  bear.  She  looked  very  pretty  as  she  lay,  with 
dark  lashes  against  the  feverish  cheeks,  lips  apart,  and 


WARD  NO.   2.  35 

a  cloud  of  curly  black  locks  all  about  the  face  pillowed 
on  one  arm.  She  seemed  like  a  brilliant  little  flower 
in  that  dull  place,  —  for  the  French  blood  in  her  veins 
gave  her  a  color,  warmth,  and  grace  which  were  very 
charming.  Her  natural  love  of  beauty  showed  itself 
in  many  ways :  a  red  ribbon  had  tied  up  her  hair,  a 
gay  but  faded  shawl  was  thrown  over  the  bed,  and  the 
gifts  sent  her  were  arranged  with  care  upon  the  table 
by  her  side  among  her  own  few  toys  and  treasures. 
There  was  something  pathetic  in  this  childish  attempt 
to  beautify  the  poor  place,  and  Mrs.  Minot's  eyes  were 
full  as  she  looked  at  the  tired  woman,  whose  one  joy 
and  comfort  lay  there  in  such  sad  plight. 

"My  dear  soul,  cheer  up,  and  we  will  help  one 
another  through  the  hard  times,"  she  said,  with  a  soft 
hand  on  the  rough  one,  and  a  look  that  promised 
much. 

"  Please  God,  we  will,  mem  !  With  such  good  friends, 
I  never  should  complain.  I  try  not  to  do  it,  but  it 
breaks  my  heart  to  see  my  little  lass  spoiled  for  life, 
most  like  ; "  and  Mrs.  Pecq  pressed  the  kind  hand  with 
a  despondent  sigh. 

"We  won't  say,  or  even  think,  that,  yet.  Every 
thing  is  possible  to  youth  and  health  like  Janey's. 
We  must  keep  her  happy,  and  time  will  do  the  rest, 
I  'in  sure.  Let  us  begin  at  once,  and  have  a  surprise 
for  her  when  she  wakes." 

As  she  spoke,  Mrs.  Minot  moved  quietly  about  the 
room,  pinning  the  pages  of  several  illustrated  papers 
against  the  wall  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  and  placing  to 
the  best  advantage  the  other  comforts  she  had  brought. 

"Keep  up  your  heart,  neighbor. t  I  have  an  idea  in 
my  head  which  I  think  will  help  us  all,  if  I  can  carry 


36  JACK  AND  JILL. 

it  out,"  she  said,  cheerily,  as  she  went,  leaving  Mrs. 
Pecq  to  sew  on  Jack's  new  night-gowns,  with  swift 
fingers,  and  the  grateful  wish  that  she  might  work  for 
these  good  friends  for  ever. 

As  if  the  whispering  and  rustling  had  disturbed  her, 
Jill  soon  began  to  stir,  and  slowly  opened  the  eyes 
which  had  closed  so  wearily  on  the  dull  December 
afternoon.  The  bare  wall  with  its  brown  spiders  no 
longer  confronted  her,  but  the  colored  print  of  a  little 
girl  dancing  to  the  tune  her  father  was  playing  on  a 
guitar,  while  a  stately  lady,  with  satin  dress,  ruff,  and 
powder,  stood  looking  on,  well  pleased.  The  quaint 
figure,  in  its  belaced  frock,  quilted  petticoat,  and  red- 
heeled  shoes,  seemed  to  come  tripping  toward  her  in 
such  a  life-like  way,  that  she  almost  saw  the  curls  blow 
back,  heard  the  rustle  of  the  rich  brocade,  and  caught 
the  sparkle  of  the  little  maid's  bright  eyes. 

"  Oh,  how  pretty  !  Who  sent  them  ?  "  asked  Jill, 
eagerly,  as  her  eye  glanced  along  the  wall,  seeing  other 
new  and  interesting  things  beyond  :  an  elephant-hunt, 
a  ship  in  full  sail,  a  horse-race,  and  a  ball-room. 

"  The  good  fairy  who  never  comes  empty-handed. 
Look  round  a  bit  and  you  will  see  more  pretties,  —  all 
for  you,  my  dearie  ; "  and  her  mother  pointed  to  a  bunch 
of  purple  grapes  in  a  green  leaf  plate,  a  knot  of  bright 
flowers  pinned  on  the  white  curtain,  and  a  gay  little 
double  gown  across  the  foot  of  the  bed. 

Jill  clapped  her  hands,  and  was  enjoying  her  new 
pleasures,  when  in  came  Merry  and  Molly  Loo,  with 
Boo,  of  course,  trotting  after  her  like  a  fat  and  amiable 
puppy.  Then  the  good  times  began ;  the  gown  was 
put  on,  the  fruit  tasted,  and  the  pictures  were  studied 
like  famous  works  of  art. 


WARD  NO.   2.  37 

"  It 's  a  splendid  plan  to  cover  up  that  hateful  wall. 
I  'd  stick  pictures  all  round  and  have  a  gallery.  -That 
reminds  me !  Up  in  the  garret  at  our  house  is  a  box 
full  of  old  fashion-books  my  aunt  left.  I  often  look  at 
them  on  rainy  days,  and  they  are  very  funny.  I  '11  go 
this  minute  and  get  every  one.  We  can  pin  them  up, 
or  make  paper  dolls;"  and  away  rushed  Molly  Loo, 
with  the  small  brother  waddling  behind,  for,  when  he 
lost  sight  of  her,  he  was  desolate  indeed. 

The  girls  had  fits  of  laughter  over  the  queer  cos 
tumes  of  years  gone  by,  and  put  up  a  splendid  proces 
sion  of  ladies  in  full  skirts,  towering  hats,  pointed  slip 
pers,  powdered  hair,  simpering  faces,  and  impossible 
waists. 

"  I  do  think  this  bride  is  perfectly  splendid,  the  long 
train  and  vail  are  so  sweet,"  said  Jill,  revelling  in  fine 
clothes  as  she  turned  from  one  plate  to  another. 

"  I  like  the  elephants  best,  and  I  'd  give  anything  to 
go  on  a  hunt  like  that ! "  cried  Molly  Loo,  who  rode 
cows,  drove  any  horse  she  could  get,  had  nine  cats,  and 
was  not  afraid  of  the  biggest  dog  that  ever  barked. 

"I  fancy  'The  Dancing  Lesson;'  it  is  so  sort  of 
splendid,  with  the  great  windows,  gold  chairs,  and  fine 
folks.  Oh,  I  would  like  to  live  in  a  castle  with  a 
father  and  mother  like  that,"  said  Merry,  who  was 
romantic,  and  found  the  old  farmhouse  on  the  hill  a  sad 
trial  to  her  high-flown  ideas  of  elegance. 

"  Now,  that  ship,  setting  out  for  some  far-away  place, 
is  more  to  my  mind.  I  weary  for  home  now  and  then, 
and  mean  to  see  it  again  some  day ; "  and  Mrs.  Pecq 
looked  longingly  at  the  English  ship,  though  it  was 
evidently  outward  bound.  Then,  as  if  reproaching 
herself  for  discontent,  she  added;  "It  looks  like  those 


38  JACK  AND  JILL. 

I  used  to  see  going  off  to  India  with  a  load  of  mission 
aries.  I  came  near  going  myself  once,  with  a  lady 
bound  for  Siam ;  but  I  went  to  Canada  with  her  sister, 
and  here  I  am." 

"I'd  like  to  be  a  missionary  and  go  where  folks 
throw  their  babies  to  the  crocodiles.  I  'd  watch  and 
fish  them  out,  and  have  a  school,  and  bring  them  up, 
and  convert  all  the  people  till  they  knew  better,"  said 
warm-hearted  Molly  Loo,  who  befriended  every  abused 
animal  and  forlorn  child  she  met. 

"  We  need  n't  go  to  Africa  to  be  missionaries  ;  they 
have  'em  nearer  home  and  need  'em,  too.  In  all  the 
big  cities  there  are  a  many,  and  they  have  their  hands 
full  with  the  poor,  the  wicked,  and  the  helpless.  One 
can  find  that  sort  of  work  anywhere,  if  one  has  a 
mind,"  said  Mrs.  Pecq. 

"  I  wish  we  had  some  to  do  here.  I  'd  so- like  to  go 
round  with  baskets  of  tea  and  rice,  and  give  out  tracts 
and  talk  to  people.  Wouldn't  you,  girls?"  asked 
Molly,  much  taken  with  the  new  idea. 

"  It  would  be  rather  nice  to  have  a  society  all  to 
ourselves,  and  '  have  meetings  and  resolutions  and 
things,"  answered  Merry,  who  was  fond  of  little  cere 
monies,  and  always  went  to  the  sewing  circle  with  her 
mother. 

"  We  would  n't  let  the  boys  come  in.  We  'd  have  it 
a  secret  society,  as  they  do  their  temperance  lodge,  and 
we  'd  have  badges  and  pass-words  and  grips.  It  would 
be  fun  if  we  can  only  get  some  heathen  to  work  at ! " 
cried  Jill,  ready  for  fresh  enterprises  of  every  sort. 

"  I  can  tell  you  some  one  to  begin  on  right  away," 
said  her  mother,  nodding  at  her.  "As  wild  a  little 
savage  as  I  'd  wish  to  see.  Take  her  in  hand,  and 


WARD  NO.   2.  89 

make  a  pretty-mannered  lady  of  her.  Begin  at  home, 
my  lass,  and  you  '11  find  missionary  work  enough  for  a 
while." 

"  Now,  Mammy,  you  mean  me  !  Well,  I  will  begin  ; 
and  I  '11  be  so  good,  folks  won't  know  me.  Being  sick 
makes  naughty  children  behave  in  story-books,  I  '11  see 
if  live  ones  can't ; "  and  Jill  put  on  such  a  sanctified 
face  that  the  girls  laughed  and  asked  for  their  missions 
also,  thinking  they  would  be  the  same. 

"  You,  Merry,  might  do  a  deal  at  home  helping 
mother,  and  setting  the  big  brothers  a  good  example. 
One  little  girl  in  a  house  can  do  pretty  much  as  she 
will,  especially  if  she  has  a  mind  to  make  plain  things 
nice  and  comfortable,  and  not  long  for  castles  before 
she  knows  how  to  do  her  own  tasks  well,"  was  the  first 
unexpected  reply. 

Merry  colored,  but  took  the  reproof  sweetly,  resolv 
ing  to  do  what  she  could,  and  surprised  to  find  how 
many  ways  seemed  open  to  her  after  a  few  minutes' 
thought. 

"  Where  shall  I  begin  ?  I  'm  not  afraid  of  a  dozen 
crocodiles  after  Miss  Bat ; "  and  Molly  Loo  looked 
about  her  with  a  fierce  air,  having  had  practice  in  bat 
tles  with  the  old  lady  who  kept  her  father's  house. 

"  Well,  dear,  you  have  n't  far  to  look  for  as  nice  a 
little  heathen  as  you  'd  wish  ; "  and  Mrs.  Pecq  glanced 
at  Boo,  who  sat  on  the  floor  staring  hard  at  them, 
attracted  by  the  dread  word  "  crocodile."  He  had  a  cold 
and  no  handkerchief,  his  little  hands  were  red  with 
chilblains,  his  clothes  shabby,  he  had  untidy  darns  in 
the  knees  of  his  stockings,  and  a  head  of  tight  curls 
that  evidently  had  not  been  combed  for  some  time. 

"Yes,  I  know  he  is,  and  I  try  to  keep  him  decent, 


40  JACK  AND  JILL. 

but  I  forget,  and  he  hates  to  be  fixed,  and  Miss  Bat 
does  n't  care,  and  father  laughs  when  I  talk  about  it." 

Poor  Molly  Loo  looked  much  ashamed  as  she  made 
excuses,  trying  at  the  same  time  to  mend  matters  by 
seizing  Boo  and  dusting  him  all  over  with  her  handker 
chief,  giving  a  pull  at  his  hair  as  if  ringing  bells,  and 
then  dumping  him  down  again  with  the  despairing 
exclamation :  "  Yes,  we  're  a  pair  of  heathens,  and 
there  's  no  one  to  save  us  if  I  don't." 

That  was  true  enough  ;  for  Molly's  father  was  a  busy 
man,  careless  of  everything  but  his  mills.  Miss  Bat 
was  old  and  lazy,  and  felt  as  if  she  might  take  life  easy 
after  serving  the  motherless  children  for  many  years 
as  well  as  she  knew  how.  Molly  was  beginning  to  see 
how  much  amiss  things  were  at  home,  and  old  enough 
to  feel  mortified,  though,  as  yet,  she  had  done  nothing 
to  mend  the  matter  except  be  kind  to  the  little  boy. 

"  You  will,  my  dear,"  answered  Mrs.  Pecq,  encour 
agingly,  for  she  knew  all  about  it.  "  Now  you  've  each 
got  a  mission,  let  us  see  how  well  you  will  get  on. 
Keep  it  secret,  if  you  like,  and  report  once  a  week. 
I  '11  be  a  member,  and  we  '11  do  great  things  yet." 

"  We  won't  begin  till  after  Christmas  ;  there  is  so 
much  to  do,  we  never  shall  have  time  for  any  more. 
Don't  tell,  and  we  '11  start  fair  at  New  Year's,  if  not 
before,"  said  Jill,  taking  the  lead  as  usual.  Then  they 
went  on  with  the  gay  ladies,  who  certainly  were  heathen 
enough  in  dress  to  be  in  sad  need  of  conversion,  —  to 
common-sense  at  least. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  was  at  a  party,"  said  Jill,  after  a  pause 
occupied  in  surveying  her  gallery  with  great  satisfac 
tion,  for  dress  was  her  delight,  and  here  she  had  every 
conceivable  style  and  color. 


WARD  NO.  2.  41 

"  Talking  of  parties,  is  n't  it  too  bad  that  we  must 
give  up  our  Christinas  fun  ?  Can't  get  on  without  you 
and  Jack,  so  we  are  not  going  to  do  a  thing,  but  just 
have  our  presents,"  said  Merry,  sadly,  as  they  began  to 
fit  different  heads  and  bodies  together,  to  try  droll 
effects. 

"  I  shall  be  all  well  in  a  fortnight,  I  know  ;  but  Jack 
won't,  for  it  will  take  more  than  a  month  to  mend  his 
poor  leg.  May  be,  they  will  have  a  dance  in  the  boys' 
big  room,  and  he  can  look  on,"  suggested  Jill,  with  a 
glance  at  the  dancing  damsel  on  the  wall,  for  she  dearly 
loved  it,  and  never  guessed  how  long  it  would  be  before 
her  light  feet  would  keep  time  to  music  again. 

"  You  'd  better  give  Jack  a  hint  about  the  party. 
Send  over  some  smart  ladies,  and  say  they  have  come 
to  his  Christmas  ball,"  proposed  audacious  Molly  Loo, 
always  ready  for  fun. 

So  they  put  a  preposterous  green  bonnet,  top-heavy 
with  plumes,  on  a  little  lady  in  yellow,  who  sat  in  a  car 
riage  ;  the  lady  beside  her,  in  winter  costume  of  velvet 
pelisse  and  ermine  boa,  was  fitted  to  a  bride's  head 
with  its  orange  flowers  and  veil,  and  these  works  of  art 
were  sent  over  to  Jack,  labelled  "  Miss  Laura  and  Lotty 
Burton  going  to  the  Minots'  Christmas  ball,"  —  a  piece 
of  naughtiness  on  Jill's  part,  for  she  knew  Jack  liked 
the  pretty  sisters,  whose  gentle  manners  made  her  own 
wild  ways  seem  all  the  more  blamable. 

No  answer  came  for  a  long  time,  and  the  girls  had 
almost  forgotten  their  joke  in  a  game  of  Letters,  when 
"  Tingle,  tangle  !  "  went  the  bell,  and  the  basket  came 
in  heavily  laden.  A  roll  of  colored  papers  was  tied 
outside,  and  within  was  a  box  that  rattled,  a  green 
and  silver  horn,  a  roll  of  narrow  ribbons,  a  spool  of 


42  JACK  AND  JILL. 

strong  thread,  some  large  needles,  and  a  note  from  Mrs. 
Minot :  — 

"  DEAR  JILL,  —  I  think  of  having  a  Christmas  tree  so  that  our 
invalids  can  enjoy  it,  and  all  your  elegant  friends  are  cordially 
invited.  Knowing  that  you  would  like  to  help,  I  send  some  paper 
for  sugar-plum  horns  and  some  beads  for  necklaces.  They  will 
brighten  the  tree  and  please  the  girls  for  themselves  or  their  dolls. 
Jack  sends  you  a  horn  for  a  pattern,  and  will  you  make  a  ladder- 
necklace  to  show  him  how?  Let  me  know  if  you  need  anything. 
"  Yours  in  haste, 

"ANNA  MINOT." 

"  She  knew  what  the  child  would  like,  bless  her 
kind  heart,"  said  Mrs.  Pecq  to  herself,  and  something 
brighter  than  the  most  silvery  bead  shone  on  Jack's 
shirt-sleeve,  as  she  saw  the  rapture  of  Jill  over  the  new 
work  and  the  promised  pleasure. 

Joyful  cries  greeted  the  opening  of  the  box,  for 
bunches  of  splendid  large  bugles  appeared  in  all  colors, 
and  a  lively  discussion  went  on  as  to  the  best  contrasts. 
Jill  could  not  refuse  to  let  her  friends  share  the  pretty 
work,  and  soon  three  necklaces  glittered  on  three  necks, 
as  each  admired  her  own  choice. 

"  I  'd  be  willing  to  hurt  my  back  dreadfully,  if  I 
could  lie  and  do  such  lovely  things  all  day,"  said  Merry, 
as  she  reluctantly  put  down  her  needle  at  last,  for 
home  duties  waited  to  be  done,  and  looked  more  than 
ever  distasteful  after  this  new  pleasure. 

"  So  would  I !  Oh,  do  you  think  Mrs.  Minot  will 
let  you  fill  the  horns  when  they  are  done  ?  I  'd  love 
to  help  you  then.  Be  sure  you  send  for  me !  "  cried 
Molly  Loo,  arching  her  neck  like  a  proud  pigeon  to 
watch  the  glitter  of  her  purple  and  gold  necklace  on 
her  brown  gown. 


WARD  NO.   2.  43 

"  I  'm  afraid  you  could  n't  be  trusted,  you  love 
sweeties  so,  and  I  'm  sure  Boo  could  n't.  But  I  '11  see 
about  it,"  replied  Jill,  with  a  responsible  air. 

The  mention  of  the  boy  recalled  him  to  their  minds, 
and  looking  round  they  found  him  peacefully  absorbed 
in  polishing  up  the  floor  with  Molly's  pocket-handker 
chief  and  oil  from  the  little  machine-can.  Being  torn 
from  this  congenial  labor,  he  was  carried  off  shining 
with  grease  and  roaring  lustily. 

But  Jill  did  not  mind  her  loneliness  now,  and  sang 
like  a  happy  canary  while  she  threaded  her  sparkling 
beads,  or  hung  the  gay  horns  to  dry,  ready  for  their 
cargoes  of  sweets.  So  Mrs.  Minot's  recipe  for  sunshine 
proved  successful,  and  mother-wit  made  the  wintry  day 
a  bright  and  happy  one  for  both  the  little  prisoners. 


CHAPTER  V. 
SECRETS. 

THERE  were  a  great  many  clubs  in  Harmony  Vil 
lage,  but  as  we  intend  to  interest  ourselves  with 
the  affairs  of  the  young  folks  only,  we  need  not  dwell 
upon  the  intellectual  amusements  of  the  elders.  In 
summer,  the  boys  devoted  themselves  to  base  ball,  the 
girls  to  boating,  and  all  got  rosy,  stout,  and  strong,  in 
these  healthful  exercises.  In  winter,  the  lads  had  their 
debating  club,  the  lasses  a  dramatic  ditto.  At  the  for 
mer,  astonishing  bursts  of  oratory  were  heard ;  at  the 
latter,  everything  was  boldly  attempted,  from  Romeo 
and  Juliet  to  Mother  Goose's  immortal  melodies.  The 
two  clubs  frequently  met  and  mingled  their  attractions 
in  a  really  entertaining  manner,  for  the  speakers  made 
good  actors,  and  the  young  actresses  were  most  appre 
ciative  listeners  to  the  eloquence  of  each  budding 
Demosthenes. 

Great  plans  had  been  afoot  for  Christmas  or  New 
Year,  but  when  the  grand  catastrophe  put  an  end  to 
the  career  of  one  of  the  best  "  spouters,"  and  caused 
the  retirement  of  the  favorite  "  singing  chambermaid," 
the  affair  was  postponed  till  February,  when  Washing 
ton's  birthday  was  always  celebrated  by  the  patriotic 
town,  where  the  father  of  his  country  once  put  on  his 


SECRETS.  45 

night-cap,  or  took  off  his  boots,  as  that  ubiquitous  hero 
appears  to  have  done  in  every  part  of  the  United 
States. 

Meantime  the  boys  were  studying  Revolutionary 
characters,  and  the  girls  rehearsing  such  dramatic 
scenes  as  they  thought  most  appropriate  and  effective 
for  the  22d.  In  both  of  these  attempts  they  were 
much  helped  by  the  sense  and  spirit  of  Ralph  Evans,  a 
youth  of  nineteen,  who  was  a  great  favorite  with  the 
young  folks,  not  only  because  he  was  a  good,  industri 
ous  fellow,  who  supported  his  grandmother,  but  also 
full  of  talent,  fun,  and  ingenuity.  It  was  no  won 
der  every  one  who  really  knew  him  liked  him,  for  he 
could  turn  his  hand  to  anything,  and  loved  to  do  it. 
If  the  girls  were  in  despair  about  a  fire-place  when  act 
ing  "  The  Cricket  on  the  Hearth,"  he  painted  one,  and 
put  a  gas-log  in  it  that  made  the  kettle  really  boil,  to 
their  great  delight.  If  the  boys  found  the  interest  of 
their  club  flagging,  Ralph  would  convulse  them  by  imi 
tations  of  the  "  Member  from  Cranberry  Centre,"  or 
fire  them  with  speeches  of  famous  statesmen.  Charity 
fairs  could  not  get  on  without  him,  and  in  the  store 
where  he  worked  he  did  many  an  ingenious  job,  which 
made  him  valued  for  his  mechanical  skill,  as  well  as  for 
his  energy  and  integrity. 

Mrs.  Minot  liked  to  have  him  with  her  sons,  because 
they  also  were  to  paddle  their  own  canoes  by  and  by, 
and  she  believed  that,  rich  or  poor,  boys  make  better 
men  for  learning  to  use  the  talents  they  possess,  not 
merely  as  ornaments,  but  tools  with  which  to  carve 
their  own  fortunes ;  and  the  best  help  toward  this 
end  is  an  example  of  faithful  work,  high  aims,  and 
honest  living.  So  Ralph  came  often,  and  in  times  of 


46  JACK  AND  JILL. 

trouble  was  a  real  rainy-day  friend.  Jack  grew  very 
fond  of  him  during  his  imprisonment,  for  the  good 
youth  ran  in  every  evening  to  get  commissions,  amuse 
the  boy  with  droll  accounts  of  the  day's  adventures,  or 
invent  lifts,  bed-tables,  and  foot-rests  for  the  impatient 
invalid.  Frank  found  him  a  sure  guide  through  the 
mechanical  mysteries  which  he  loved,  and  spent  many 
a  useful  half-hour  discussing  cylinders,  pistons,  valves, 
and  balance-wheels.  Jill  also  came  in  for  her  share  of 
care  and  comfort ;  the  poor  little  back  lay  all  the  easier 
for  the  air-cushion  Ralph  got  her,  and  the  weary  head 
aches  found  relief  from  the  spray  atomizer,  which  softly 
distilled  its  scented  dew  on  the  hot  forehead  till  she 
fell  asleep. 

Round  the  beds  of  Jack  and  Jill  met  and  mingled  the 
school-mates  of  whom  our  story  treats.  Never,  proba 
bly,  did  invalids  have  gayer  times  than  our  two,  after  a 
week  of  solitary  confinement;  for  school  gossip  crept  in, 
games  could  not  be  prevented,  and  Christmas  secrets 
were  concocted  in  those  rooms  till  they  were  regular 
conspirators'  dens,  when  they  were  not  little  Bedlams. 

After  the  horn  and  bead  labors  were  over,  the  string 
ing  of  pop-corn  on  red,  and  cranberries  on  white,  threads, 
came  next,  and  Jack  and  Jill  often  looked  like  a  new 
kind  of  spider  in  the  pretty  webs  hung  about  them,  till 
reeled  oft'  to  bide  their  time  in  the  Christmas  closet. 
Paper  flowers  followed,  and  gay  garlands  and  bouquets 
blossomed,  regardless  of  the  snow  and  frost  without. 
Then  there  was  a  great  scribbling  of  names,  verses, 
and  notes  to  accompany  the  steadily  increasing  store 
of  odd  parcels  which  were  collected  at  the  Minots',  for 
gifts  from  every  one  were  to  ornament  the  tree,  and 
contributions  poured  in  as  the  day  drew  near. 


SECRETS.  47 

But  the  secret  which  most  excited  the  young  people 
was  the  deep  mystery  of  certain  proceedings  at  the 
Minot  house.  No  one  but  Frank,  Ralph,  and  Mamma 
knew  what  it  was,  and  the  two  boys  nearly  drove  the 
others  distracted  by  the  tantalizing  way  in  which  they 
hinted  at  joys  to  come,  talked  strangely  about  birds, 
went  measuring  round  with  foot-rules,  and  shut  them 
selves  up  in  the  Boys'  Den,  as  a  certain  large  room  was 
called.  This  seemed  to  be  the  centre  of  operations  ; 
but  beyond  the  fact  of  the  promised  tree  no  ray  of 
light  was  permitted  to  pass  the  jealously  guarded 
doors.  Strange  men  with  paste-pots  and  ladders  went 
in,  furniture  was  dragged  about,  and  all  sorts  of  boyish 
lumber  was  sent  up  garret  and  down  cellar.  Mrs. 
Minot  was  seen  pondering  over  heaps  of  green  stuff, 
hammering  was  heard,  singular  bundles  were  smuggled 
upstairs,  flowering  plants  betrayed  their  presence  by 
whiffs  of  fragrance  when  the  door  was  opened,  and 
Mrs.  Pecq  was  caught  smiling  all  by  herself  in  a  back 
bedroom,  which  usually  was  shut  up  in  winter. 

"  They  are  going  to  have  a  play,  after  all,  and  that 
green  stuff  was  the  curtain,"  said  Molly  Loo,  as  the 
girls  talked  it  over  one  day,  when  they  sat  with  their 
backs  turned  to  one  another,  putting  last  stitches  in 
certain  bits  of  work  which  had  to  be  concealed  from 
all  eyes,  though  it  was  found  convenient  to  ask  one 
another's  taste  as  to  the  color,  materials,  and  sizes  of 
these  mysterious  articles. 

"  I  think  it  is  going  to  be  a  dance.  I  heard  the  boys 
doing  their  steps  when  I  went  in  last  evening  to  find 
out  whether  Jack  liked  blue  or  yellow  best,  so  I  could 
put  the  bow  on  his  pen-wiper,"  declared  Merry,  knitting 
briskly  away  at  the  last  of  the  pair  of  pretty  white  bed- 


48  JACK  AND  JILL. 

socks  she  was  making  for  Jill  right  under  her  inquisi 
tive  little  nose. 

"  They  would  n't  have  a  party  of  that  kind  without 
Jack  and  me.  It  is  only  an  extra  nice  tree,  you  see  if 
it  is  n't,"  answered  Jill  from  behind  the  pillows  which 
made  a  temporary  screen  to  hide  the  toilet  mats  she 
was  preparing  for  all  her  friends. 

"  Every  one  of  you  is  wrong,  and  you  'd  better  rest 
easy,  for  you  won't  find  out  the  best  part  of  it,  try  as 
you  may."  And  Mrs.  Pecq  actually  chuckled  as  she, 
too,  worked  away  at  some  bits  of  muslin,  with  her  back 
turned  to  the  very  unsocial-looking  group. 

"  Well,  I  don't  care,  we  Ve  got  a  secret  all  our  own, 
and  won't  ever  tell,  will  we?"  cried  Jill,  falling  back 
on  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  though  it  was  not  yet 
begun. 

"  Never !  "  answered  the  girls,  and  all  took  great 
comfort  in  the  idea  that  one  mystery  would  not  be 
cleared  up,  even  at  Christmas. 

Jack  gave  up  guessing,  in  despair,  after  he  had  sug 
gested  a  new  dining-room  where  he  could  eat  with  the 
family,  a  private  school  in  which  his  lessons  might  go 
on  with  a  tutor,  or  a  theatre  for  the  production  of 
the  farces  in  which  he  delighted. 

"  It  is  going  to  be  used  to  keep  something  in  that 
you  are  very  fond  of,"  said  Mamma,  taking  pity  on  him 
at  last. 

"  Ducks  ?  "  asked  Jack,  with  a  half  pleased,  half  puz 
zled  air,  not  quite  seeing  where  the  water  was  to  come 
from. 

Frank  exploded  at  the  idea,  and  added  to  the  mys 
tification  by  saying, — 

"  There  will  be  one  little  duck  and  one  great  donkey 
in  it." 


SECRETS.  49 

Then,  fearing  he  had  told  the  secret,  he  ran  off, 
quacking  and  braying  derisively. 

"  It  is  to  be  used  for  creatures  that  I,  too,  am  fond 
of,  and  you  know  neither  donkeys  nor  ducks  are  favor 
ites  of  mine,"  said  Mamma,  with  a  demure  expression, 
as  she  sat  turning  over  old  clothes  for  the  bundles  that 
always  went  to  poor  neighbors,  with  a  little  store  of 
goodies,  at  this  time  of  the  year. 

u  I  know  !  I  know  !  It  is  to  be  a  new  ward  for  more 
sick  folks,  is  n't  it,  now  ? "  cried  Jack,  with  what  he 
thought  a  great  proof  of  shrewdness. 

"  I  don't  see  how  I  could  attend  to  many  more  pa 
tients  till  this  one  is  off  my  hands,"  answered  Mamma, 
with  a  queer  smile,  adding  quickly,  as  if  she  too  was 
afraid  of  letting  the  cat  out  of  the  bag  :  "  That  reminds 
me  of  a  Christmas  I  once  spent  among  the  hospitals 
and  poor-houses  of  a  great  city  with  a  good  lady  who, 
for  thirty  years,  had  made  it  her  mission  to  see  that 
these  poor  little  souls  had  one  merry  day.  We  gave 
away  two  hundred  dolls,  several  great  boxes  of  candy 
and  toys,  besides  gay  pictures,  and  new  clothes  to 
orphan  children,  sick  babies,  and  half-grown  innocents. 
Ah,  my  boy,  that  was  a  day  to  remember  all  my  life, 
to  make  me  doubly  grateful  for  my  blessings,  and  very 
glad  to  serve  the  helpless  and  afflicted,  as  that  dear 
woman  did." 

The  look  and  tone  with  which  the  last  words  were 
uttered  effectually  turned  Jack's  thoughts  from  the 
great  secret,  and  started  another  small  one,  for  he  fell 
to  planning  what  he  would  buy  with  his  pocket-money 
to  surprise  the  little  Pats  and  Biddies  who  were  to 
have  no  Christmas  tree. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SURPRISES. 

IS  it  pleasant  ?  "  was  the  question  Jill  asked  before 
she  was  fairly  awake  on  Christmas  morning. 

"  Yes,  dear ;  as  bright  as  heart  could  wish.  Now 
eat  a  bit,  and  then  I  '11  make  you  nice  for  the  day's 
pleasure.  I  only  hope  it  won't  be  too  much  for  you," 
answered  Mrs.  Pecq,  bustling  about,  happy,  yet  anxious, 
for  Jill  was  to  be  carried  over  to  Mrs.  Minot's,  and  it 
was  her  first  attempt  at  going  out  since  the  accident. 

It  seemed  as  if  nine  o'clock  would  never  come,  and 
Jill,  with  wraps  all  ready,  lay  waiting  in  a  fever  of 
impatience  for  the  doctor's  visit,  as  he  wished  to  super 
intend  the  moving.  At  last  he  came,  found  all  promis 
ing,  and  having  bundled  up  his  small  patient,  carried 
her,  with  Frank's  help,  in  her  chair-bed  to  the  ox-sled, 
which  was  drawn  to  the  next  door,  and  Miss  Jill  landed 
in  the  Boy's  Den  before  she  had  time  to  get  either  cold 
or  tired.  Mrs.  Minot  took  her  things  off  with  a  cor 
dial  welcome,  but  Jill  never  said  a  word,  for,  after  one 
exclamation,  she  lay  staring  about  her,  dumb  with  sur 
prise  and  delight  at  what  she  saw. 

The  great  room  was  entirely  changed  ;  for  now  it 
looked  like  a  garden,  or  one  of  the  fairy  scenes  chil 
dren  love,  where  in-doors  and  out-of-doors  are  pleas- 


SURPRISES.  51 

antly  combined.  The  ceiling  was  pale  blue,  like  the 
sky ;  the  walls  were  covered  with  a  paper  like  a  rustic 
trellis,  up  which  climbed  morning-glories  so  naturally 
that  the  many-colored  bells  seemed  dancing  in  the 
wind.  Birds  and  butterflies  flew  among  them,  and 
here  and  there,  through  arches  in  the  trellis,  one 
seemed  to  look  into  a  sunny  summer  world,  contrast 
ing  curiously  with  the  wintry  landscape  lying  beyond 
the  real  windows,  festooned  with  evergreen  garlands, 
and  curtained  only  by  stands  of  living  flowers.  A 
green  drugget  covered  the  floor  like  grass,  rustic  chairs 
from  the  garden  stood  about,  and  in  the  middle  of  the 
room  a  handsome  hemlock  waited  for  its  pretty  bur 
den.  A  Yule-log  blazed  on  the  wide  hearth,  and  over 
the  chimney-piece,  framed  in  holly,  shone  the  words 
that  set  all  hearts  to  dancing,  "  Merry  Christmas  !  " 

"  Do  you  like  it,  dear  ?  This  is  our  surprise  for  you 
and  Jack,  and  here  we  mean  to  have  good  times  to 
gether,"  said  Mrs.  Minot,  who  had  stood  quietly  enjoy 
ing  the  effect  of  her  work. 

"  Oh,  it  is  so  lovely  I  don't  know  what  to  say !  "  and 
Jill  put  up  both  arms,  as  words  failed  her,  and  grateful 
kisses  were  all  she  had  to  offer. 

"  Can  you  suggest  anything  more  to  add  to  the  pleas 
antness  ? "  asked  the  gentle  lady,  holding  the  small 
hands  in  her  own,  and  feeling  well  repaid  by  the  child's 
delight. 

<k  Only  Jack ;  "  and  Jill's  laugh  was  good  to  hear,  as 
she  glanced  up  with  merry,  yet  wistful  eyes. 

"  You  are  right.  We  '11  have  him  in  at  once,  or  he 
will  come  hopping  on  one  leg;"  and  away  hurried  his 
mother,  laughing,  too,  for  whistles,  shouts,  thumps,  and 
violent  demonstrations  of  all  kinds  had  been  heard 


52  JACK  AND  JILL. 

from  the  room  where  Jack  was  raging  with  impatience, 
while  he  waited  for  his  share  of  the  surprise. 

Jill  could  hardly  lie  still  when  she  heard  the  roll  of 
another  chair-bed  coming  down  the  hall,  its  passage 
enlivened  with  cries  of  "  Starboard  !  Port !  Easy  now  ! 
Pull  away !  "  from  Ralph  and  Frank,  as  they  steered 
the  recumbent  Columbus  on  his  first  voyage  of  dis 
covery. 

"  Well,  I  call  that  handsome  !  "  was  Jack's  exclama 
tion,  when  the  full  beauty  of  the  scene  burst  upon  his 
view.  Then  he  forgot  all  about  it  and  gave  a  whoop  of 
pleasure,  for  there  beside  the  fire  was  an  eager  face,  two 
hands  beckoning,  and  Jill's  voice  crying,  joyfully,  — 

"  I  'm  here !  I  'm  here !  Oh,  do  come,  quick ! " 
Down  the  long  room  rattled  the  chair,  Jack  cheering 
all  the  way,  and  brought  up  beside  the  other  one,  as  the 
long-parted  friends  exclaimed,  with  one  accord,  — 

"Isn't  this  jolly!" 

It  certainly  did  look  so,  for  Ralph  and  Frank  danced 
a  wild  sort  of  fandango  round  the  tree,  Dr.  Whiting 
stood  and  laughed,  while  the  two  mothers  beamed  from 
the  door-way,  and  the  children,  not  knowing  whether 
to  laugh  or  to  cry,  compromised  the  matter  by  clap 
ping  their  hands  and  shouting,  "  Merry  Christmas  to 
everybody  ! "  like  a  pair  of  little  maniacs. 

Then  they  all  sobered  down,  and  the  busy  ones  went 
off  to  the  various  duties  of  the  day,  leaving  the  young 
invalids  to  repose  and  enjoy  themselves  together. 

"  How  nice  you  look,"  said  Jill,  when  they  had  duly 
admired  the  pretty  room. 

"  So  do  you,"  gallantly  returned  Jack,  as  he  surveyed 
her  with  unusual  interest. 

They  did  look  very  nice,  though  happiness  was  the 


SURPRISES.  53 

principal  beautifier.  Jill  wore  a  red  wrapper,  with  the 
most  brilliant  of  all  the  necklaces  sparkling  at  her 
throat,  over  a  nicely  crimped  frill  her  mother  had 
made  in  honor  of  the  day.  All  the  curly  black  hair 
was  gathered  into  a  red  net,  and  a  pair  of  smart  little 
moccasins  covered  the  feet  that  had  not  stepped  for 
many  a  weary  day.  Jack  was  not  so  gay,  but  had  made 
himself  as  tine  as  circumstances  would  permit.  A  gray 
dressing-gown,  with  blue  cuffs  and  collar,  was  very 
becoming  to  the  blonde  youth  ;  an  immaculate  shirt, 
best  studs,  sleeve-buttons,  blue  tie,  and  handkerchief 
wet  with  cologne  sticking  out  of  the  breast-pocket, 
gave  an  air  of  elegance  in  spite  of,  the  afghan  spread 
over  the  lower  portions  of  his  manly  form.  The  yel 
low  hair  was  brushed  till  it  shone,  and  being  parted  in 
the  middle,  to  hide  the  black  patch,  made  two  engag 
ing  little  "  quirls  "  on  his  forehead.  The  summer  tan 
had  faded  from  his  cheeks,  but  his  eyes  were  as  blue 
as  the  wintry  sky,  and  nearly  every  white  tooth  was 
visible  as  he  smiled  on  his  partner  in  misfortune,  say 
ing  cheerily,  — 

• "  I  'm  ever  so  glad  to  see  you  again  ;  guess  we  are 
over  the  worst  of  it  now,  and  can  have  good  times. 
Won't  it  be  fun  to  stay  here  all  the  while,  and  amuse 
one  another  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed  ;  but  one  day  is  so  short !  It  will  be 
stupider  than  ever  when  I  go  home  to-night,"  answered 
Jill,  looking  about  her  with  longing  eyes. 

"  But  you  are  not  going  home  to-night ;  you  are  to 
stay  ever  so  long.  Did  n't  Mamma  tell  you  ?" 

"  No.  Oh,  how  splendid  !  Am  I  really  ?  Where 
will  I  sleep?  What  will  Mammy  do  without  me?" 
and  Jill  almost  sat  up,  she  was  so  delighted  with  the 
new  surprise. 


54  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  That  room  in  there  is  all  fixed  for  you.  I  made 
Frank  tell  me  so  much.  Mamma  said  I  might  tell  you, 
but  I  did  n't  think  she  would  be  able  to  hold  in  if  she 
saw  you  first.  Your  mother  is  coming,  too,  and  we  are 
all  going  to  have  larks  together  till  we  are  well." 

The  splendor  of  this  arrangement  took  Jill's  breath 
away,  and  before  she  got  it  again,  in  came  Frank  and 
Ralph  with  two  clothes-baskets  of  treasures  to  be  hung 
upon  the  tree.  While  they  wired  on  the  candles  the 
children  asked  questions,  and  found  out  all  they  wanted 
to  know  about  the  new  plans  and  pleasures. 

«  Who  fixed  all  this  ? " 

"  Mamma  thought  of  it,  and  Ralph  and  I  did  it. 
He  's  the  man  for  this  sort  of  thing,  you  know.  He 
proposed  cutting  out  the  arches  and  sticking  on  birds 
and  butterflies  just  where  they  looked  best.  I  put 
those  canaries  over  there,  they  looked  so  well  against 
the  blue ; "  and  Frank  proudly  pointed  out  some  queer 
orange-colored  fowls,  looking  as  if  they  were  having 
fits  in  the  air,  but  very  effective,  nevertheless. 

"  Your  mother  said  you  might  call  this  the  Bird 
Room.  We  caught  a  scarlet-tan  age  r  for  you  to  begin 
with,  did  n't  we,  Jack  ?  "  and  Ralph  threw  a  bonbon  at 
Jill,  who  looked  very  like  a  bright  little  bird  in  a  warm 
nest. 

"  Good  for  you  !  Yes,  and  we  are  going  to  keep  her 
in  this  pretty  cage  till  we  can  both  fly  off  together. 
I  say,  Jill,  where  shall  we  be  in  our  classes  when  we  do 
get  back?"  and  Jack's  merry  face  fell  at  the  thought. 

"At  the  foot,  if  we  don't  study  and  keep  up.  Doc 
tor  said  I  might  study  sometimes,  if  I  'd  lie  still  as  long 
as  he  thought  best,  and  Molly  brought  home  my  books, 
and  Merry  says  she  will  come  in  every  day  and  tell  me 


SURPRISES.  55 

where  the  lessons  are.  I  don't  mean  to  fall  behind,  if 
my  backbone  is  cracked,"  said  Jill,  with  a  decided  nod 
that  made  several  black  rings  fly  out  of  the  net  to 
dance  on  her  forehead. 

"  Frank  said  he  'd  pull  me  along  in  my  Latin,  but 
I  Ve  been  lazy  and  have  n't  done  a  thing.  Let's  go  at 
it  and  start  fair  for  New  Year,"  proposed  Jack,  who 
did  not  love  study  as  the  bright  girl  did,  but  was 
ashamed  to  fall  behind  her  in  anything. 

"All  right.  They've  been  reviewing,  so  we  can 
keep  up  when  they  begin,  if  we  work  next  week,  while 
the  rest  have  a  holiday.  Oh,  dear,  I  do  miss  school 
dreadfully;"  and  Jill  sighed  for  the  old  desk,  every 
blot  and  notch  of  which  was  dear  to  her. 

"  There  come  our  things,  and  pretty  nice  they  look, 
too,"  said  Jack  ;  and  his  mother  began  to  dress  the 
tree,  hanging  up  the  gay  horns,  the  gilded  nuts,  red 
and  yellow  apples  and  oranges,  and  festooning  long 
strings  of  pop-corn  and  scarlet  cranberries  from  bough 
to  bough,  with  the  glittering  necklaces  hung  where  the 
light  would  show  their  colors  best. 

"  I  never  saw  such  a  splendid  tree  before.  I  'in  glad 
we  could  help,  though  we  were  ill.  Is  it  all  done  now?" 
asked  Jill,  when  the  last  parcel  was  tied  on  and  every 
body  stood  back  to  admire  the  pretty  sight. 

"  One  thing  more.  Hand  me  that  box,  Frank,  and 
be  very  careful  that  you  fasten  this  up  firmly,  Ralph," 
answered  Mrs.  Minot,  as  she  took  from  its  wrappings 
the  waxen  figure  of  a  little  child.  The  rosy  limbs  were 
very  life-like,  so  was  the  smiling  face  under  the  locks 
of  shining  hair.  Both  plump  arms  were  outspread  as 
if  to  scatter  blessings  over  all,  and  downy  wings  seemed 
to  flutter  from  the  dimpled  shoulders,  making  an  angel 
of  the  baby. 


56  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  Is  it  St.  Nicholas  ?  "  asked  Jill,  who  had  never  seen 
that  famous  personage,  and  knew  but  little  of  Christmas 
festivities. 

"  It  is  the  Christ-child,  whose  birthday  we  are  cele 
brating.  I  got  the  best  1  could  find,  for  I  like  the  idea 
better  than  old  Santa  Claus  ;  though  we  may  have  him, 
too,"  said  Mamma,  holding  the  little  image  so  that  both 
could  see  it  well. 

"  It  looks  like  a  real  baby ; "  and  Jack  touched  the 
rosy  foot  with  the  tip  of  his  finger,  as  if  expecting  a 
crow  from  the  half-open  lips. 

"  It  reminds  me  of  the  saints  in  the  chapel  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  in  Montreal.  One  little  St.  John  looked 
like  this,  only  he  had  a  lamb  instead  of  wings,"  said 
Jill,  stroking  the  flaxen  hair,  and  wishing  she  dared  ask 
for  it  to  play  with. 

"  He  is  the  children's  saint  to  pray  to,  love,  and  imi 
tate,  for  he  never  forgot  them,  but  blessed  and  healed 
and  taught  them  all  his  life.  This  is  only  a  poor  image 
of  the  holiest  baby  ever  born,  but  I  hope  it  will  keep 
his  memory  in  your  minds  all  day,  because  this  is  the 
day  for  good  resolutions,  happy  thoughts,  and  humble 
prayers,  as  well  as  play  and  gifts  and  feasting." 

While  she  spoke,  Mrs.  Minot,  touching  the  little  figure 
as  tenderly  as  if  it  were  alive,  had  tied  a  broad  white 
ribbon  round  it,  and,  handing  it  to  Ralph,  bade  him 
fasten  it  to  the  hook  above  the  tree-top,  where  it  seemed 
to  float  as  if  the  downy  wings  supported  it. 

Jack  and  Jill  lay  silently  watching,  with  a  sweet  sort 
of  soberness  in  their  young  faces,  and  for  a  moment 
the  room  was  very  still  as  all  eyes  looked  up  at  the 
Blessed  Child.  The  sunshine  seemed  to  grow  more 
golden  as  it  flickered  on  the  little  head,  the  flames 


SURPRISES.  57 

glanced  about  the  glittering  tree  as  if  trying  to  climb 
and  kiss  the  baby  feet,  and,  without,  a  chime  of  bells 
rang  sweetly,  calling  people  to  hear  again  the  lovely 
story  of  the  life  begun  on  Christmas  Day. 

Only  a  minute,  but  it  did  them  good,  and  presently, 
when  the  pleasant  work  was  over,  and  the  workers 
gone,  the  boys  to  church,  and  Mamma  to  see  about 
lunch  for  the  invalids,  Jack  said,  gravely,  to  Jill,  — 

"  I  think  we  ought  to  be  extra  good,  every  one  is  so 
kind  to  us,  and  we  are  getting  well,  and  going  to  have 
such  capital  times.  Don't  see  how  we  can  do  anything 
else  to  show  we  are  grateful." 

"  It  is  n't  easy  to  be  good  when  one  is  sick,"  said  Jill, 
thoughtfully.  "  I  fret  dreadfully,  I  get  so  tired  of  being 
still.  I  want  to  scream  sometimes,  but  I  don't,  because 
it  would  scare  Mammy,  so  I  cry.  Do  you  cry,  Jack?" 

"  Men  never  do.  I  want  to  tramp  round  when  things 
bother  me  ;  but  I  can't,  so  I  kick  and  say,  '  Hang  it ! ' 
and  when  I  get  very  bad  I  pitch  into  Frank,  and  he 
lets  me.  I  tell  you,  Jill,  he 's  a  good  brother  !  "  and 
Jack  privately  resolved  then  arid  there  to  invite  Frank 
to  take  it  out  of  him  in  any  form  he  pleased  as  soon  as 
health  would  permit. 

"  I  rather  think  we  shall  grow  good  in  this  pretty 
place,  for  I  don't  see  how  we  can  be  bad  if  we  want 
to,  it  is  all  so  nice  and  sort  of  pious  here,"  said  Jill, 
with  her  eyes  on  the  angel  over  the  tree. 

"  A  fellow  can  be  awfully  hungry,  I  know  that.  I 
did  n't  half  eat  breakfast,  I  was  in  such  a  hurry  to  see 
you,  and  know  all  about  the  secrets.  Frank  kept  say 
ing  I  could  n't  guess,  that  you  had  come,  and  I  never 
would  be  ready,  till  finally  I  got  mad  and  fired  an  egg 
at  him,  and  made  no  end  of  a  mess." 


58  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Jack  and  Jill  went  off  into  a  gale  of  laughter  at  the 
idea  of  dignified  Frank  dodging  the  egg  that  smashed 
on  the  wall,  leaving  an  indelible  mark  of  Jack's  beset 
ting  sin,  impatience. 

Just  then  Mrs.  Minot  came  in,  well  pleased  to  hear 
such  pleasant  sounds,  and  to  see  two  merry  faces,  where 
usually  one  listless  one  met  her  anxious  eyes. 

"  The  new  medicine  works  well,  neighbor,"  she  said 
to  Mrs.  Pecq,  who  followed  with  the  lunch  tray. 

u  Indeed  it  does,  mem.  I  feel  as  if  I  'd  taken  a  sup 
myself,  I  'm  that  easy  in  my  mind." 

And  she  looked  so,  too,  for  she  seemed  to  have  left 
all  her  cares  ?n  the  little  house  when  she  locked  the 
door  behind  her,  and  now  stood  smiling  with  a  clean 
apron  on,  so  fresh  and  cheerful,  that  Jill  hardly  knew 
her  own  mother. 

"Things  taste  better  when  you  have  some  one  to 
eat  with  you,"  observed  Jack,  as  they  devoured  sand 
wiches,  and  drank  milk  out  of  little  mugs  with  rose 
buds  on  them. 

"  Don't  eat  too  much,  or  you  won't  be  ready  for  the 
next  surprise,"  said  his  mother,  when  the  plates  were 
empty,  and  the  last  drop  gone  down  throats  dry  with 
much  chatter. 

"More  surprises  !  Oh,  what  fun  !"  cried  Jill.  And 
all  the  rest  of  the  morning,  in  the  intervals  of  talk  and 
play,  they  tried  to  guess  what  it  could  be. 

At  two  o'clock  they  found  out,  for  dinner  was  served 
in  the  Bird  Room,  and  the  children  revelled  in  the  sim 
ple  feast  prepared  for  them.  The  two  mothers  kept 
the  little  bed-tables  well  supplied,  and  fed  their  nurs 
lings  like  maternal  birds,  while  Frank  presided  over 
the  feast  with  great  dignity,  and  ate  a  dinner  which 


SURPRISES.  59 

would  have  astonished  Mamma,  if  she  had  not  been  too 
busy  to  observe  how  fast  the  mince  pie  vanished. 

"The  girls  said  Christmas  was  spoiled  because  of 
as ;  but  I  don't  think  so,  and  they  won't  either,  when 
they  see  this  splendid  place  and  know  all  about  our 
nice  plans,"  said  Jill,  luxuriously  eating  the  nut-meats 
Jack  picked  out  for  her,  as  they  lay  in  Eastern  style  at 
the  festive  board. 

"  I  call  this  broken  bones  made  easy.  I  never  had  a 
better  Christmas.  Have  a  raisin  ?  Here  's  a  good  fat 
one."  And  Jack  made  a  long  arm  to  Jill's  mouth, 
which  began  to  sing  "  Little  Jack  Horner "  as  an 
appropriate  return. 

"  It  would  have  been  a  lonesome  one  to  all  of  us, 
I'm  thinking,  but  for  your  mother,  boys.  My  duty 
and  hearty  thanks  to  you,  mem,"  put  in  grateful  Mrs. 
Pecq,  bowing  over  her  coffee-cup  as  she  had  seen 
ladies  bow  over  their  wine-glasses  at  dinner  parties  in 
Old  England. 

"  I  rise  to  propose  a  health,  Our  Mothers."  And 
Frank  stood  up  with  a  goblet  of  water,  for  not  even  at 
Christmas  time  was  wine  seen  on  that  table. 

"  Hip,  hip,  hurra ! "  called  Jack,  baptizing  himself 
with  a  good  sprinkle,  as  he  waved  his  glass  and  drank 
the  toast  with  a  look  that  made  his  mother's  eyes  fill 
witli  happy  tears. 

Jill  threw  her  mother  a  kiss,  feeling  very  grown  up 
and  elegant  to  be  dining  out  in  such  style.  Then  they 
drank  every  one's  health  with  much  merriment,  till 
Frank  declared  that  Jack  would  float  off  on  the  deluge 
of  water  he  splashed  about  in  his  enthusiasm,  and 
Mamma  proposed  a  rest  after  the  merry-making. 

"Now  the  best  fun  is  coming,  and  we  have  not  long 


60  JACK  AND  JILL. 

to  wait,"  said  the  boy,  when  naps  and  rides  about  the 
room  had  whiled  away  the  brief  interval  between 
dinner  and  dusk,  for  the  evening  entertainment  was  to 
be  an  early  one,  to  suit  the  invalids'  bed-time. 

"  I  hope  the  girls  will  like  their  things.  I  helped  to 
choose  them,  and  each  has  a  nice  present.  I  don't 
know  mine,  though,  and  I  'm  in  a  twitter  to  see  it," 
said  Jill,  as  they  lay  waiting  for  the  fun  to  begin. 

"  I  do ;  I  chose  it,  so  I  know  you  will  like  one  of 
them,  anyway." 

"  Have  I  got  more  than  one  ?" 

"  I  guess  you  '11  think  so  when  they  are  handed 
down.  The  bell  was  going  all  day  yesterday,  and  the 
girls  kept  bringing  in  bundles  for  you ;  I  see  seven 
now,"  and  Jack  rolled  his  eyes  from  one  mysterious 
parcel  to  another  hanging  on  the  laden  boughs. 

"I  know  something,  too.  That  square  bundle  is 
what  you  want  ever  so  much.  I  told  Frank,  and  he 
got  it  for  his  present.  It  is  all  red  and  gold  outside, 
and  every  sort  of  color  inside ;  you  '11  hurrah  when  you 
see  it.  That  roundish  one  is  yours  too  ;  I  made  them," 
cried  Jill,  pointing  to  a  flat  package  tied  to  the  stem  of 
the  tree,  and  a  neat  little  roll  in  which  were  the  blue 
mittens  that  she  had  knit  for  him. 

"  I  can  wait ; "  but  the  boy's  eyes  shone  with  eager 
ness,  and  he  could  not  resist  firing  two  or  three  pop 
corns  at  it  to  see  whether  it  was  hard  or  soft. 

"  That  barking  dog  is  for  Boo,  and  the  little  yellow 
sled,  so  Molly  can  drag  him  to  school,  he  always  tum 
bles  down  so  when  it  is  slippery,"  continued  Jill, 
proud  of  her  superior  knowledge,  as  she  showed  a 
small  spotted  animal  hanging  by  its  tail,  with  a  red 
tongue  displayed  as  if  about  to  taste  the  sweeties  in 
the  hori  below. 


SURPRISES.  61 

"  Don't  talk  about  sleds,  for  mercy's  sake  !  I  never 
want  to  see  another,  and  you  would  n't,  either,  if  you 
had  to  lie  with  a  flat-iron  tied  to  your  ankle,  as  I  do," 
said  Jack,  with  a  kick  of  the  well  leg  and  an  ireful 
glance  at  the  weight  attached  to  the  other  that  it 
might  not  contract  while  healing. 

"  Well,  I  think  plasters,  and  liniment,  and  rubbing, 
as  bad  as  flat-irons  any  day.  I  don't  believe  you  have 
ached  half  so  much  as  I  have,  though  it  sounds  worse 
to  break  legs  than  to  sprain  your  back,"  protested 
Jill,  eager  to  prove  herself  the  greater  sufferer,  as  in 
valids  are  apt  to  be. 

"  I  guess  you  would  n't  think  so  if  you  'd  been  pulled 
round  as  I  was  when  they  set  my  leg.  Ca3sar,  how 
it  did  hurt ! "  and  Jack  squirmed  at  the  recollection 
of  it. 

"  You  did  n't  faint  away  as  I  did  when  the  doctor 
was  finding  out  if  my  vertebrums  were  hurt,  so  now  ! " 
cried  Jill,  bound  to  carry  her  point,  though  not  at  all 
clear  what  vertebra  were. 

"  Pooh  !  Girls  always  faint.  Men  are  braver,  and  I 
did  n't  faint  a  bit  in  spite  of  all  that  horrid  agony." 

"  You  howled ;  Frank  told  me  so.  Doctor  said  1 
was  a  brave  girl,  so  you  need  n't  brag,  for  you  '11  have 
to  go  on  a  crutch  for  a  while.  I  know  that." 

"  You  may  have  to  use  two  of  them  for  years,  may 
be.  I  heard  the  doctor  tell  my  mother  so.  I  shall  be 
up  and  about  long  before  you  will.  Now  then  ! " 

Both  children  were  getting  excited,  for  the  various 
pleasures  of  the  day  had  been  rather  too  much  for 
them,  and  there  is  no  knowing  but  they  would  have 
added  the  sad  surprise  of  a  quarrel  to  the  pleasant  ones 
of  the  day,  if  a  cheerful  whistle  had  not  been  heard,  as 


62  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Ralph  came  in  to  light  the  candles  and  give  the  last 
artistic  touches  to  the  room. 

"  Well,  young  folks,  how  goes  it  ?  Had  a  merry 
time  so  far?"  he  asked,  as  he  fixed  the  steps  and  ran 
up  with  a  lighted  match  in  his  hand. 

"  Very  nice,  thank  you,"  answered  a  prim  little  voice 
from  the  dusk  below,  for  only  the  glow  of  the  fire  filled 
the  room  just  then. 

Jack  said  nothing,  and  two  red  sulky  faces  were 
hidden  in  the  dark,  watching  candle  after  candle 
sputter,  brighten,  and  twinkle,  till  the  trembling  shad 
ows  began  to  flit  away  like  imps  afraid  of  the  light. 

"  Now  he  will  see  my  face,  and  I  know  it  is  cross," 
thought  Jill,  as  Ralph  went  round  the  last  circle,  leav 
ing  another  line  of  sparks  among  the  hemlock  boughs. 

Jack  thought  the  same,  and  had  just  got  the  frown 
smoothed  out  of  his  forehead,  when  Frank  brought  a 
fresh  log,  and  a  glorious  blaze  sprung  up,  filling  every 
corner  of  the  room,  and  dancing  over  the  figures  in  the 
long  chairs  till  they  had  to  brighten  whether  they  liked 
it  or  not.  Presently  the  bell  began  to  ring  and  gay 
voices  to  sound  below :  then  Jill  smiled  in  spite  of  her 
self  as  Molly  Loo's  usual  cry  of  "  Oh,  dear,  where  is 
that  child?"  reached  her,  and  Jack  could  not  help 
keeping  time  to  the  march  Ed  played,  while  Frank  and 
Gus  marshalled  the  procession. 

"  Ready !  "  cried  Mrs.  Minot,  at  last,  and  up  came 
the  troop  of  eager  lads  and  lasses,  brave  in  holiday 
suits,  with  faces  to  match.  A  unanimous  "  O,  o,  o  !  " 
burst  from  twenty  tongues,  as  the  full  splendor  of  the 
tree,  the  room,  and  its  inmates,  dawned  upon  them ; 
for  not  only  did  the  pretty  Christ-child  hover  above, 
but  Santa  Claus  himself  stood  below,  fur-clad,  white- 


SURPRISES.  63 

bearded,  and  powdered  with  snow  from  the  dredging- 
box. 

Ralph  was  a  good  actor,  and,  when  the  first  raptures 
were  over  he  distributed  the  presents  with  such  droll 
speeches,  jokes,  and  gambols,  that  the  room  rang  with 
merriment,  and  passers-by  paused  to  listen,  sure  that 
here,  at  least,  Christmas  was  merry.  It  would  be  im 
possible  to  tell  about  all  the  gifts  or  the  joy  of  the 
receivers,  but  every  one  was  satisfied,  and  the  king  and 
queen  of  the  revels  so  overwhelmed  with  little  tokens 
of  good-will,  that  their  beds  looked  like  booths  at  a 
fair.  Jack  beamed  over  the  handsome  postage-stamp 
book  which  had  long  been  the  desire  of  his  heart,  and 
Jill  felt  like  a  millionaire,  with  a  silver  fruit-knife,  a 
pretty  work-basket,  and  —  oh!  coals  of  fire  on  her 
head  !  —  a  ring  from  Jack. 

A  simple  little  thing  enough,  with  one  tiny  turquoise 
forget-me-not,  but  something  like  a  dew-drop  fell  on  it 
when  no  one  was  looking,  and  she  longed  to  say,  "  I  'm 
sorry  I  was  cross  ;  forgive  me,  Jack."  But  it  could  not 
be  done  then,  so  she  turned  to  admire  Merry's  bed- 
shoes,  the  pots  of  pansies,  hyacinths,  and  geranium 
which  Gus  and  his  sisters  sent  for  her  window  garden, 
Molly's  queer  Christmas  pie,  and  the  zither  Ed  prom 
ised  to  teach  her  how  to  play  upon. 

The  tree  was  soon  stripped,  and  pop-corns  strewed 
the  floor  as  the  children  stood  about  picking  them  off 
the  red  threads  when  candy  gave  out,  with  an  occa 
sional  cranberry  by  way  of  relish.  Boo  insisted  on  try 
ing  the  new  sled  at  once,  and  enlivened  the  trip  by  the 
squeaking  of  the  spotted  dog,  the  toot  of  a  tin  trumpet, 
and  shouts  of  joy  at  the  splendor  of  the  turn-out. 

The  girls  all  put  on  their   necklaces,  and   danced 


64  JACK  AND  JILL. 

about  like  fine  ladies  at  a  ball.  The  boys  fell  to  com 
paring  skates,  balls,  and  cuff-buttons  on  the  spot,  while 
the  little  ones  devoted  all  their  energies  to  eating 
everything  eatable  they  could  lay  their  hands  on. 

Games  were  played  till  nine  o'clock,  and  then  the 
party  broke  up,  after  they  had  taken  hands  round  the 
tree  and  sung  a  song  written  by  one  whom  you  all 
know,  —  so  faithfully  and  beautifully  does  she  love  and 
labor  for  children  the  world  over. 

THE    BLESSED    DAY. 

"  What  shall  little  children  bring 

On  Christmas  Day,  on  Christmas  Day  ? 
What  shall  little  children  bring 

On  Christmas  Day  in  the  morning  ? 
This  shall  little  children  bring 

On  Christmas  Day,  on  Christmas  Day ; 
Love  and  joy  to  Christ  their  king, 

On  Christmas  Day  in  the  morning! 

"  What  shall  little  children  sing 

On  Christmas  Day,  on  Christmas  Day  ? 
What  shall  little  children  sing 

On  Christmas  Day  in  the  morning  ? 
The  grand  old  carols  shall  they  sing 

On  Christmas  Day,  on  Christmas  Day ; 
With  all  their  hearts,  their  offerings  bring 

On  Christmas  Day  in  the  morning." 

Jack  was  carried  off  to  bed  in  such  haste  that  he  had 
only  time  to  call  out,  "  Good-night ! "  before  he  was 
rolled  away,  gaping  as  he  went.  Jill  soon  found  her 
self  tucked  up  in  the  great  white  bed  she  was  to  share 
with  her  mother,  and  lay  looking  about  the  pleasant 
chamber,  while  Mrs.  Pecq  ran  home  for  a  minute  to 
see  that  all  was  safe  there  for  the  night. 


SURPRISES.  65 

After  the  merry  din  the  house  seemed  very  still, 
with  only  a  light  step  now  and  then,  the  murmur  of 
voices  not  far  away,  or  the  jingle  of  sleigh-bells  from 
without,  and  the  little  girl  rested  easily  among  the  pil 
lows,  thinking  over  the  pleasures  of  the  day,  too  wide 
awake  for  sleep.  There  was  no  lamp  in  the  chamber, 
but  she  could  look  into  the  pretty  Bird  Room,  where  the 
fire-light  still  shone  on  flowery  walls,  deserted  tree,  and 
Christ-child  floating  above  the  green.  Jill's  eyes  wan 
dered  there  and  lingered  till  they  were  full  of  regretful 
tears,  because  the  sight  of  the  little  angel  recalled  the 
words  spoken  when  it  was  hung  up,  the  good  resolution 
she  had  taken  then,  and  how  soon  it  was  broken. 

"  I  said  I  could  n't  be  bad  in  that  lovely  place,  and  I 
was  a  cross,  ungrateful  girl  after  all  they  've  done  for 
Mammy  and  me.  Poor  Jack  icas  hurt  the  worst,  and 
he  was  brave,  though  he  did  scream.  I  wish  I  could  go 
and  tell  him  so,  and  hear  him  say,  'All  right.'  Oh,  me, 
I  Ve  spoiled  the  day !  " 

A  great  sob  choked  more  words,  and  Jill  was  about 
to  have  a  comfortable  cry,  when  some  one  entered  the 
other  room,  and  she  saw  Frank  doing  something  with 
a  long  cord  and  a  thing  that  looked  like  a  tiny  drum. 
Quiet  as  a  bright-eyed  mouse,  Jill  peeped  out  wonder 
ing  what  it  was,  and  suspecting  mischief,  for  the  boy 
was  laughing  to  himself  as  he  stretched  the  cord,  and 
now  and  then  bent  over  the  little  object  in  his  hand, 
touching  it  with  great  care. 

"  May  be  it 's  a  torpedo  to  blow  up  and  scare  me ; 
Jack  likes  to  play  tricks.  Well,  I  '11  scream  loud  when 
it  goes  off,  so  he  will  be  satisfied  that  I  'm  dreadfully 
frightened,"  thought  Jill,  little  dreaming  what  the  last 
surprise  of  the  day  was  to  be. 


66  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Presently  a  voice  whispered,  — 

"  I  say !     Are  you  awake  ?  " 

«  Yes." 

"  Any  one  there  but  you  ?  " 

"No." 

"  Catch  this,  then.  Hold  it  to  your  ear  and  see  what 
you  '11  get." 

The  little  drum  came  flying  in,  and,  catching  it,  Jill, 
with  some  hesitation,  obeyed  Frank's  order.  Judge  of 
her  amazement  when  she  caught  in  broken  whispers 
these  touching  words  :  — 

"  Sorry  I  was  cross  Forgive  and  forget.  Start  fair 
to-morrow.  All  right.  Jack." 

Jill  was  so  delighted  with  this  handsome  apology, 
that  she  could  not  reply  for  a  moment,  then  steadied 
her  voice,  and  answered  back  in  her  sweetest  tone,  — 

"  I  'm  sorry,  too  Never,  never,  will  again.  Feel 
much  better  now.  Good-night,  you  dear  old  thing." 

Satisfied  with  the  success  of  his  telephone,  Frank 
twitched  back  the  drum  and  vanished,  leaving  Jill  to 
lay  her  cheek  upon  the  hand  that  wore  the  little  ring 
and  fall  asleep,  saying  to  herself,  with  a  farewell  glance 
at  the  children's  saint,  dimly  seen  in  the  soft  gloom, 
"  I  will  not  forget.  I  will  be  good  ! " 


CHAPTER    VII. 
JILL'S    MISSION. 

good  times  began  immediately,  and  very  little 
-*-  studying  was  done  that  week  in  spite  of  the  virtu 
ous  resolutions  made  by  certain  young  persons  on  Christ 
mas-day.  But,  dear  me,  how  was  it  possible  to  settle 
down  to  lessons  in  the  delightful  Bird  Room,  with  not 
only  its  own  charms  to  distract  one,  but  all  the  new 
gifts  to  enjoy,  and  a  dozen  calls  a  day  to  occupy  one's 
time  ? 

"  I  guess  we  'd  better  wait  till  the  others  are  at  school, 
and  just  go  in  for  fun  this  week,"  said  Jack,  who  was 
in  great  spirits  at  the  prospect  of  getting  up,  for  the 
splints  were  off,  and  he  hoped  to  be  promoted  to 
crutches  very  soon. 

"  I  shall  keep  my  Speller  by  me  and  take  a  look  at 
it  every  day,  for  that  is  what  I  'm  most  backward  in. 
But  I  intend  to  devote  myself  to  you,  Jack,  and  be 
real  kind  and  useful.  I  've  made  a  plan  to  do  it,  and 
I  mean  to  carry  it  out,  any  way,"  answered  Jill,  who 
had  begun  to  be  a  missionary,  and  felt  that  this  was  a 
field  of  labor  where  she  could  distinguish  herself. 

"  Here  's  a  home  mission  all  ready  for  you,  and  you 
can  be  paying  your  debts  beside  doing  yourself  good," 
Mrs.  Pecq  said  to  her  in  private,  having  found  plenty 
to  do  herself. 


68  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Now  Jill  made  one  great  mistake  at  the  outset,  — 
she  forgot  that  she  was  the  one  to  be  converted  to 
good  manners  and  gentleness,  and  devoted  her  efforts 
to  looking  after  Jack,  finding  it  much  easier  to  cure 
other  people's  faults  than  her  own.  Jack  was  a  most 
engaging  heathen,  and  needed  very  little  instruction  ; 
therefore  Jill  thought  her  task  would  be  an  easy  one. 
But  three  or  four  weeks  of  petting  and  play  had  rather 
demoralized  both  children,  so  Jill's  Speller,  though 
tucked  under  the  sofa  pillow  every  day,  was  seldom 
looked  at,  and  Jack  shirked  his  Latin  shamefully. 
Both  read  all  the  story-books  they  could  get,  held 
daily  levees  in  the  Bird  Room,  and  all  their  spare  min 
utes  were  spent  in  teaching  Snowdrop,  the  great  An 
gora  cat,  to  bring  the  ball  when  they  dropped  it  in 
their  game.  So  Saturday  came,  and  both  were  rather 
the  worse  for  so  much  idleness,  since  daily  duties  and 
studies  are  the  wholesome  bread  which  feeds  the  mind 
better  than  the  dyspeptic  plum-cake  of  sensational 
reading,  or  the  unsubstantial  bon-bons  of  frivolous 
amusement. 

It  was  a  stormy  day,  so  they  had  few  callers,  and 
devoted  themselves  to  arranging  the  album ;  for  these 
books  were  all  the  rage  just  then,  and  boys  met  to 
compare,  discuss,  buy,  sell,  and  "  swap  "  stamps  with 
as  much  interest  as  men  on  'Change  gamble  in  stocks. 
Jack  had  a  nice  little  collection,  and  had  been  saving 
up  pocket-money  to  buy  a  book  in  which  to  preserve 
his  treasures.  Now,  thanks  to  Jill's  timely  suggestion, 
Frank  had  given  him  a  fine  one,  and  several  friends 
had  contributed  a  number  of  rare  stamps  to  grace  the 
large,  inviting  pages.  Jill  wielded  the  gum-brush  and 
fit|/e4  pn  the  little  flaps,  as  her  fingers  were  skilful  at 


JILL'S  MISSION.  69 

this  nice  work,  and  Jack  put  each  stamp  in  its  proper 
place  with  great  rustling  of  leaves  and  comparing  of 
marks.  Returning,  after  a  brief  absence,  Mrs.  Minot 
beheld  the  countenances  of  the  workers  adorned  with 
gay  stamps,  giving  them  a  very  curious  appearance. 

"  My  dears  !  what  new  play  have  you  got  now  ?  Are 
you  wild  Indians  ?  or  letters  that  have  gone  round  the 
world  before  finding  the  right  address?"  she  asked, 
laughing  at  the  ridiculous  sight,  for  both  were  as  sober 
as  judges  and  deeply  absorbed  in  some  doubtful  speci 
men. 

"  Oh,  we  just  stuck  them  there  to  keep  them  safe ; 
they  get  lost  if  we  leave  them  lying  round.  It's  very 
handy,  for  I  can  see  in  a  minute  what  I  want  on  Jill's 
face  and  she  on  mine,  and  put  our  fingers  on  the  right 
chap  at  once,"  answered  Jack,  adding,  with  an  anxious 
gaze  at  his  friend's  variegated  countenance,  "  Where 
the  dickens  is  my  New  Granada  ?  It  's  rare,  and  I 
would  n't  lose  it  for  a  dollar." 

"  Why,  there  it  is  on  your  own  nose.  Don't  you 
remember  you  put  it  there  because  you  said  mine  was 
not  big  enough  to  hold  it?"  laughed  Jill,  tweaking  a 
large  orange  square  off  the  round  nose  of  her  neighbor, 
causing  it  to  wrinkle  up  in  a  droll  way,  as  the  gum 
made  the  operation  slightly  painful. 

"  So  I  did,  and  gave  you  Little  Bolivar  on  yours. 
Now  I  '11  have  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  1870.  There  are 
seven  of  them,  so  hold  still  and  see  how  you  like  it," 
returned  Jack,  picking  the  large,  pale  stamps  one  by 
one  from  Jill's  forehead,  which  they  crossed  like  a 
band. 

She  bore  it  without  flinching,  saying  to  herself  with 
a  secret  smile,  as  she  glanced  at  the  hot  fire,  which 


70  JACK  AND  JILL. 

scorched  her  if  she  kept  near  enough  to  Jack  to  help 
him,  "  This  really  is  being  like  a  missionary,  with  a 
tattooed  savage  to  look  after.  I  have  to  suffer  a  little, 
as  the  good  folks  did  who  got  speared  and  roasted 
sometimes ;  but  I  won't  complain  a  bit,  though  my 
forehead  smarts,  my  arms  are  tired,  and  one  cheek  is 
as  red  as  fire." 

"  The  Roman  States  make  a  handsome  page,  don't 
they?"  asked  Jack,  little  dreaming  of  the  part  he  was 
playing  in  Jill's  mind.  "Oh,  I  say,  is  n't  Corea  a 
beauty  I'm  ever  so  proud  of  that ; "  and  he  gazed 
fondly  on  a  big  blue  stamp,  the  sole  ornament  of  one 
page. 

11 1  don't  see  why  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  has  pyra 
mids.  They  ought  to  go  in  Egypt.  The  Sandwich 
Islands  are  all  right,  with  heads  of  the  black  kings  and 
queens  on  them,"  said  Jill,  feeling  that  they  were  very 
appropriate  to  her  private  play. 

"  Turkey  has  crescents,  Australia  swans,  and  Spain 
women's  heads,  with  black  bars  across  them.  Frank 
says  it  is  because  they  keep  women  shut  up  so ;  but 
that  was  only  his  fun.  I  'd  rather  have  a  good,  honest 
green  United  States,  with  Washington  on  it,  or  a  blue 
one-center  with  old  Franklin,  than  all  their  eagles  and 
lions  and  kings  and  queens  put  together,"  added  the 
democratic  boy,  with  a  disrespectful  slap  on  a  crowned 
head  as  he  settled  Heligoland  in  its  place. 

"  Why  does  Austria  have  Mercury  on  the  stamp,  I 
wonder  ?  Do  they  wear  helmets  like  that  ?  "  asked  Jill, 
with  the  brush-handle  in  her  mouth  as  she  cut  a  fresh 
batch  of  flaps. 

"  May  be  he  was  postman  to  the  gods,  so  he  is  put 
on  stamps  now.  The  Prussians  wear  helmets,  but  they 


JILL'S  MISSION.  71 

have  spikes  like  the  old  Roman  fellows.  I  like  Prus 
sians  ever  so  much  ;  they  fight  splendidly,  and  always 
beat.  Austrians  have  a  handsome  uniform,  though." 

"  Talking  of  Romans  reminds  me  that  I  have  not 
heard  your  Latin  for  two  days.  Come,  lazybones, 
brace  up,  and  let  us  have  it  now.  I  've  done  my 
compo,  and  shall  have  just  time  before  I  go  out  for  a 
tramp  with  Gus,"  said  Frank,  putting  by  a  neat  page 
to  dry,  for  he  studied  every  day  like  a  conscientious 
lad  as  he  was. 

"  Don't  know  it.  Not  going  to  try  till  next  week. 
Grind  away  over  your  old  Greek  as  much  as  you  like, 
but  don't  bother  me,"  answered  Jack,  frowning  at  the 
mere  thought  of  the  detested  lesson. 

But  Frank  adored  his  Xenophon,  and  would  not  see 
his  old  friend,  Caesar,  neglected  without  an  effort  to 
defend  him ;  so  he  confiscated  the  gum-pot,  and  effectu 
ally  stopped  the  stamp  business  by  whisking  away  at 
one  fell  swoop  all  that  lay  on  Jill's  table. 

"  Now  then,  young  man,  you  will  quit  this  sort  of 
nonsense  and  do  your  lesson,  or  you  won't  see  these 
fellows  again  in  a  hurry.  You  asked  me  to  hear  you, 
and  I  'm  going  to  do  it ;  here  's  the  book." 

Frank's  tone  was  the  dictatorial  one,  which  Jack 
hated  and  always  found  hard  to  obey,  especially  when 
he  knew  he  ought  to  do  it.  Usually,  when  his  patience 
was  tried,  he  strode  about  the  room,  or  ran  off  for  a 
race  round  the  garden,  coining  back  breathless,  but 
good-tempered.  Now  both  these  vents  for  irritation 
were  denied  him,  and  he  had  fallen  into  the  way  of 
throwing  things  about  in  a  pet.  He  longed  to  send 
CaBsar  to  perpetual  banishment  in  the  fire  blazing  close 
by,  but  resisted  the  temptation,  and  answered  honestly, 


72  JACK  AND  JILL. 

though  gruffly :  "  I  know  I  did,  but  I  don't  see  any 
use  in  pouncing  on  a  fellow  when  he  is  n't  ready,  i 
have  n't  got  my  lesson,  and  don't  mean  to  worry  about 
it ;  so  you  may  just  give  me  back  my  things  and  go 
about  your  business." 

"  I  '11  give  you  back  a  stamp  for  every  perfect  lesson 
you  get,  and  you  won't  see  them  on  any  other  terms ; " 
and,  thrusting  the  treasures  into  his  pocket,  Frank 
caught  up  his  rubber  boots,  and  went  off  swinging 
them  like  a  pair  of  clubs,  feeling  that  he  would  give  a 
trifle  to  be  able  to  use  them  on  his  lazy  brother. 

At  this  high-handed  proceeding,  and  the  threat  which 
accompanied  it,  Jack's  patience  gave  out,  and  catching 
up  Caasar,  as  he  thought,  sent  him  flying  after  the  re 
treating  tyrant  with  the  defiant  declaration, — 

"  Keep  them,  then,  and  your  old  book,  too  !  I  won't 
look  at  it  till  you  give  all  my  stamps  back  and  say  you 
are  sorry.  So  now  ! " 

It  was  all  over  before  Mamma  could  interfere,  or 
Jill  do  more  than  clutch  and  cling  to  the  gum-brush. 
Frank  vanished  unharmed,  but  the  poor  book  dashed 
against  the  wall  to  fall  half  open  on  the  floor,  its  gay 
cover  loosened,  and  its  smooth  leaves  crushed  by  the 
blow. 

"It's  the  album!  O  Jack,  how  could  you?"  cried 
Jill,  dismayed  at  sight  of  the  precious  book  so  mal 
treated  by  the  owner. 

"  Thought  it  was  the  other.  Guess  it  is  n't  hurt 
much.  Did  n't  mean  to  hit  him,  any  way.  He  does 
provoke  me  so,"  muttered  Jack,  very  red  and  shame 
faced  as  his  mother  picked  up  the  book  and  laid  it 
silently  on  the  table  before  him.  He  did  not  know 
what  to  do  with  himself,  and  was  thankful  for  the 


JILVS  MISSION.  73 

stamps  still  left  him,  finding  great  relief  in  making 
faces  as  he  plucked  them  one  by  one  from  his  morti 
fied  countenance.  Jill  looked  on,  half  glad,  half  sorry 
that  her  savage  showed  such  signs  of  unconverted 
ferocity,  and  Mrs.  Minot  went  on  writing  letters,  wear 
ing  the  grave  look  her  sons  found  harder  to  bear  than 
another  person's  scolding.  No  one  spoke  for  a  moment, 
and  the  silence  was  becoming  awkward  when  Gus  ap 
peared  in  a  rubber  suit,  bringing  a  book  to  Jack  from 
Laura  and  a  note  to  Jill  from  Lotty. 

"  Look  here,  you  just  trundle  me  into  my  den,  please, 
I'm  going  to  have  a  nap,  it 's  so  dull  to-day  I  don't  feel 
like  doing  much,"  said  Jack,  when  Gus  had  done  his 
errands,  trying  to  look  as  if  he  knew  nothing  about  the 
fracas. 

Jack  folded  his  arms  and  departed  like  a  warrior 
borne  from  the  battle-field,  to  be  chaffed  unmercifully 
for  a  "  pepper-pot,"  while  Gus  made  him  comfortable 
in  his  own  room. 

"  I  heard  once  of  a  boy  who  threw  a  fork  at  his 
brother  and  put  his  eye  out.  But  he  did  n't  mean  to, 
and  the  brother  forgave  him,  and  he  never  did  so  any 
more,"  observed  Jill,  in  a  pensive  tone,  wishing  to  show 
that  she  felt  all  the  dangers  of  impatience,  but  was  sorry 
for  the  culprit. 

"Did  the  boy  ever  forgive  himself?"  asked  Mrs. 
Minot. 

"  No,  'm  ;  I  suppose  not.  But  Jack  did  n't  hit  Frank, 
and  feels  real  sorry,  I  know." 

"He  might  have,  and  hurt  him  very  much.  Our 
actions  are  in  our  own  hands,  but  the  consequences  of 
them  are  not.  Remember  that,  my  dear,  and  think 
twice  before  you  do  anything." 


74  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  Yes,  'm,  I  will ; "  and  Jill  composed  herself  to  con 
sider  what  missionaries  usually  did  when  the  natives 
hurled  tomahawks  and  boomerangs  at  one  another,  and 
defied  the  rulers  of  the  land. 

Mrs.  Minot  wrote  one  page  of  a  new  letter,  then 
stopped,  pushed  her  papers  about,  thought  a  little,  and 
finally  got  up,  saying,  as  if  she  found  it  impossible  to 
resist  the  yearning  of  her  heart  for  the  naughty  boy, — 

"  I  am  going  to  see  if  Jack  is  covered  up,  he  is  so 
helpless,  and  liable  to  take  cold.  Don't  stir  till  I  come 
back." 

"  No,  'm,  I  won't." 

Away  went  the  tender  parent  to  find  her  son  study 
ing  CaBsar  for  dear  life,  and  all  the  more  amiable  for 
the  little  gust  which  had  blown  away  the  temporary 
irritability.  The  brothers  were  often  called  "  Thunder 
and  Lightning,"  because  Frank  lowered  and  growled 
and  was  a  good  while  clearing  up,  while  Jack's  temper 
came  and  went  like  a  flash,  and  the  air  was  all  the 
clearer  for  the  escape  of  dangerous  electricity.  Of 
course  Mamma  had  to  stop  and  deliver  a  little  lecture, 
illustrated  by  sad  tales  of  petulant  boys,  and  punctu 
ated  with  kisses  which  took  off  the  edge  of  these 
afflicting  narratives. 

Jill  meantime  meditated  morally  on  the  superiority 
of  her  own  good  temper  over  the  hasty  one  of  her  dear 
playmate,  and  just  when  she  was  feeling  unusually  up 
lifted  and  secure,  alas!  like  so  many  of  us,  she  fell,  in 
the  most  deplorable  manner. 

Glancing  about  the  room  for  something  to  do,  she 
saw  a  sheet  of  paper  lying  exactly  out  of  reach,  where 
it  had  fluttered  from  the  table  unperceived.  At  first 
her  eye  rested  on  it  as  carelessly  as  it  did  on  the  stray 


JILL'S  MISSION.  75 

stamp  Frank  had  dropped  ;  then,  as  if  one  thing  sug 
gested  the  other,  she  took  it  into  her  head  that  the 
paper  was  Frank's  composition,  or,  better  still,  a  note 
to  Annette,  for  the  two  corresponded  when  absence  or 
weather  prevented  the  daily  meeting  at  school. 

"  Would  n't  it  be  fun  to  keep  it  till  he  gives  back 
Jack's  stamps  ?  It  would  plague  him  so  if  it  was  a 
note,  and  I  do  believe  it  is,  for  compo's  don't  begin 
with  t\vo  words  on  one  side.  I  '11  get  it,  and  Jack  and 
I  will  plan  some  way  to  pay  him  off,  cross  thing ! " 

Forgetting  her  promise  not  to  stir,  also  how  dishon 
orable  it  was  to  read  other  people's  letters,  Jill  caught 
up  the  long-handled  hook,  often  in  use  now,  and  tried 
to  pull  the  paper  nearer.  It  would  not  come  at  once, 
for  a  seam  in  the  carpet  held  it,  and  Jill  feared  to  tear 
or  crumple  it  if  she  was  not  very  careful.  The  hook 
was  rather  heavy  and  long  for  her  to  manage,  and  Jack 
usually  did  the  fishing,  so  she  was  not  very  skilful ; 
and  just  as  she  was  giving  a  particularly  quick  jerk, 
she  lost  her  balance,  fell  off  the  sofa,  and  dropped  the 
pole  with  a  bang. 

"  Oh,  my  back  !  "  was  all  she  could  think  or  say  as 
she  felt  the  jar  all  through  her  little  body,  and  a  cor 
responding  fear  in  her  guilty  little  mind  that  some  one 
would  come  and  find  out  the  double  mischief  she  had 
been  at.  For  a  moment  she  lay  quite  still  to  recover 
from  the  shock,  then  as  the  pain  passed  she  began  to 
wonder  how  she  should  get  back,  and  looked  about  her 
to  see  if  she  could  do  it  alone.  She  thought  she  could, 
as  the  sofa  was  near  and  she  had  improved  so  much 
that  she  could  sit  up  a  little  if  the  doctor  would  have 
let  her.  She  was  gathering  herself  together  for  the 
effort,  when,  within  arm's  reach  now,  she  saw  the1  tempt- 


76  JACK  AND  JILL. 

ing  paper,  and  seized  it  with  glee,  for  in  spite  of  her 
predicament  she  did  want  to  tease  Frank.  A  glance 
showed  that  it  was  not  the  composition  nor  a  note,  but 
the  beginning  of  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Minot  to  her  sister, 
and  Jill  was  about  to  lay  it  down  when  her  own  name 
caught  her  eye,  and  she  could  not  resist  reading  it. 
Hard  words  to  write  of  one  so  young,  doubly  hard  to 
read,  and  impossible  to  forget. 

"  DEAR  LIZZIE,  —  Jack  continues  to  do  very  well,  and  will  soon 
be  up  again.  But  we  begin  to  fear  that  the  little  girl  is  perma 
nently  injured  in  the  back.  She  is  here,  and  we  do  our  best  for 
her  ;  but  I  never  look  at  her  without  thinking  of  Lucinda  Snow, 
who,  you  remember,  was  bedridden  for  twenty  years,  owing  to  a 
fall  at  fifteen.  Poor  little  Janey  does  not  know  yet,  and  I  hope  "  — 

There  it  ended,  and  "poor  little  Janey's"  punish 
ment  for  disobedience  began  that  instant.  She  thought 
she  was  getting  well  because  she  did  not  suffer  all  the 
time,  and  every  one  spoke  cheerfully  about  "  by  and 
by."  Now  she  knew  the  truth,  and  shut  her  eyes  with 
a  shiver  as  she  said,  low,  to  herself,  — 

"  Twenty  years  !  I  could  n't  bear  it ;  oh,  I  could  n't 
bear  it ! " 

A  very  miserable  Jill  lay  on  the  floor,  and  for  a  while 
did  not  care  who  came  and  found  her ;  then  the  last 
words  of  the  letter  —  "I  hope "  —  seemed  to  shine 
across  the  blackness  of  the  dreadful  "  twenty  years " 
and  cheer  her  up  a  bit,  for  despair  never  lives  long  in 
young  hearts,  and  Jill  was  a  brave  child. 

"  That  is  why  Mammy  sighs  so  when  she  dresses  me, 
and  every  one  is  so  good  to  me.  Perhaps  Mrs.  Minot 
does  n't  really  know,  after  all.  She  was  dreadfully 
scared  about  Jack,  and  he  is  getting  well.  I  'd  like  to 
ask  Doctor,  but  he  might  find  out  about  the  letter. 


JILL'S  MISSION.  77 

Oh,  dear,  why  did  n't  I  keep  still  and  let  the  horrid 
thing  alone ! " 

As  she  thought  that,  Jill  pushed  the  paper  away, 
pulled  herself  up,  and  with  much  painful  effort  man 
aged  to  get  back  to  her  sofa,  where  she  laid  herself 
down  with  a  groan,  feeling  as  if  the  twenty  years  had 
already  passed  over  her  since  she  tumbled  off. 

"  I  've  told  a  lie,  for  I  said  I  would  n't  stir.  I  Ve 
hurt  my  back,  I  Ve  done  a  mean  thing,  and  I  've  got 
paid  for  it.  A  nice  missionary  I  am;  I'd  better  be 
gin  at  home,  as  Mammy  told  me  to ; "  and  Jill  groaned 
again,  remembering  her  mother's  words.  "  Now  I  Ve 
got  another  secret  to  keep  all  alone,  for  I  'd  be  ashamed 
to  tell  the  girls.  I  guess  I  '11  turn  round  and  study  my 
spelling;  then  no  one  will  see  my  face." 

Jill  looked  the  picture  of  a  good,  industrious  child  as 
she  lay  with  her  back  to  the  large  table,  her  book  held 
so  that  nothing  was  to  be  seen  but  one  cheek  and  a 
pair  of  lips  moving  busily.  Fortunately,  it  is  difficult 
for  little  sinners  to  act  a  part,  and,  even  if  the  face  is 
hidden,  something  in  the  body  seems  to  betray  the 
internal  remorse  and  shame.  Usually,  Jill  lay  flat 
and  still ;  now  her  back  was  bent  in  a  peculiar  way  as 
she  leaned  over  her  book,  and  one  foot  wagged  ner 
vously,  while  on  the  visible  cheek  was  a  Spanish  stamp 
with  a  woman's  face  looking  through  the  black  bars, 
very  suggestively,  if  she  had  known  it.  How  long  the 
minutes  seemed  till  some  one  came,  and  what  a  queer 
little  jump  her  heart  gave  when  Mrs.  Minot's  voice 
said,  cheerfully,  "  Jack  is  all  right,  and,  I  declare,  so 
is  Jill.  I  really  believe  there  is  a  telegraph  still  work 
ing  somewhere  between  you  two,  and  each  knows  what 
the  other  is  about  without  words." 


78  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  I  did  n't  have  any  other  book  handy,  so  I  thought 
I  'd  study  awhile,"  answered  Jill,  feeling  that  she  de 
served  no  praise  for  her  seeming  industry. 

She  cast  a  sidelong  glance  as  she  spoke,  and  seeing 
that  Mrs.  Minot  was  looking  for  the  letter,  hid  her  face 
and  lay  so  still  she  could  hear  the  rustle  of  the  paper 
as  it  was  taken  from  the  floor.  It  was  well  she  did  not 
also  see  the  quick  look  the  lady  gave  her  as  she  turned 
the  letter  and  found  a  red  stamp  sticking  to  the  under 
side,  for  this  unlucky  little  witness  told  the  story. 

Mrs.  Minot  remembered  having  seen  the  stamp  lying 
close  to  the  sofa  when  she  left  the  room,  for  she  had 
had  half  a  mind  to  take  it  to  Jack,  but  did  not,  think 
ing  Frank's  plan  had  some  advantages.  She  also 
recollected  that  a  paper  flew  off  the  table,  but  being  in 
haste  she  had  not  stopped  to  see  what  it  was.  Now, 
the  stamp  and  the  letter  could  hardly  have  come  to 
gether  without  hands,  for  they  lay  a  yard  apart,  and 
here,  also,  on  the  unwritten  portion  of  the  page,  was 
the  mark  of  a  small  green  thumb.  Jill  had  been  wind 
ing  wool  for  a  stripe  in  her  new  afghan,  and  the  green 
ball  lay  on  her  sofa.  These  signs  suggested  and  con 
firmed  what  Mrs.  Minot  did  not  want  to  believe ;  so 
did  the  voice,  attitude,  and  air  of  Jill,  all  very  unlike 
her  usual  open,  alert  ways. 

The  kind  lady  could  easily  forgive  the  reading  of  her 
letter  since  the  girl  had  found  such  sad  news  there, 
but  the  dangers  of  disobedience  were  serious  in  her 
case,  and  a  glance  showed  that  she  was  suffering  either 
in  mind  or  body,  —  perhaps  both. 

"  I  will  wait  for  her  to  tell  me.  She  is  an  honest 
child,  and  the  truth  will  soon  come  out,"  thought  Mrs. 
Minot,  as  she  took  a  clean  sheet,  and  Jill  tried  to  study. 


JILL'S  MISSION.  79 

"  Shall  I  hear  your  lesson,  dear  ?  Jack  means  to 
recite  his  like  a  good  ''boy,  so  suppose  you  follow  his 
example,"  she  said,  presently. 

"  I  don't  know  as  I  can  say  it,  but  I  '11  try." 

Jill  did  try,  and  got  on  bravely  till  she  came  to  the 
word  "  permanent ;  "  there  she  hesitated,  remembering 
where  she  saw  it  last. 

"  Do  you  know  what  that  means  ?  "  asked  her  teacher, 
thinking  to  help  her  on  by  defining  the  word. 

"  Always  —  for  a  great  while  —  or  something  like 
that ;  does  n't  it  ?  "  faltered  Jill,  with  a  tight  feeling  in 
her  throat,  and  the  color  coming  up,  as  she  tried  to 
speak  easily,  yet  felt  so  shame-stricken  she  could  not. 

"  Are  you  in  pain,  my  child  ?  Never  mind  the  les 
son  ;  tell  me,  and  I  '11  do  something  for  you." 

The  kind  words,  the  soft  hand  on  her  hot  cheek,  and 
the  pity  in  the  eyes  that  looked  at  her,  were  too  much 
for  Jill.  A  sob  came  first,  and  then  the  truth,  told 
with  hidden  face  and  tears  that  washed  the  blush 
away,  and  set  free  the  honest  little  soul  that  could  not 
hide  its  fault  from  such  a  friend. 

"  I  knew  it  all  before,  and  was  sure  you  would  tell 
me,  else  you  would  not  be  the  child  I  love  and  like  to 
help  so  well." 

Then,  while  she  soothed  Jill's  trouble,  Mrs.  Minot 
told  her  story  and  showed  the  letter,  wishing  to  lessen, 
if  possible,  some  part  of  the  pain  it  had  given. 

"  Sly  old  stamp  !  to  go  and  tell  on  me  when  I  meant 
to  own  up,  and  get  some  credit  if  I  could,  after  being 
so  mean  and  bad,"  said  Jill,  smiling  through  her  tears 
when  she  saw  the  tell-tale  witnesses  against  her. 

"You  had  better  stick  it  in  your  book  to  remind  you 
of  the  bad  consequences  of  disobedience,  then  perhaps 


80  JACK  AND  JILL. 

this  lesson  will  leave  a  '  permanent '  impression  on  your 
mind  and  memory,"  answered  Ilrs.  Minot,  glad  to  see 
her  natural  gayety  coming  back,  and  hoping  that  she 
had  forgotten  the  contents  of  the  unfortunate  letter. 

But  she  had  not ;  and  presently,  when  the  sad  affair 
had  been  talked  over  and  forgiven,  Jill  asked,  slowly, 
as  she  tried  to  put  on  a  brave  look,  — 

"  Please  tell  me  about  Lucinda  Snow.  If  I  am  to  be 
like  her,  I  might  as  well  know  how  she  managed  to 
bear  it  so  long." 

"  I  'm  sorry  you  ever  heard  of  her,  and  yet  perhaps 
it  may  help  you  to  bear  your  trial,  dear,  which  I  hope 
will  never  be  as  heavy  a  one  as  hers.  This  Lucinda  I 
knew  for  years,  and  though  at  first  I  thought  her  fate 
the  saddest  that  could  be,  I  came  at  last  to  see  how 
happy  she  was  in  spite  of  her  affliction,  how  good  and 
useful  and  beloved." 

"Why,  how  could  she  be?  What  did  she  do?" 
cried  Jill,  forgetting  her  own  troubles  to  look  up  with 
an  open,  eager  face  again. 

"  She  was  so  patient,  other  people  were  ashamed  to 
complain  of  their  small  worries  ;  so  cheerful,  that  her 
own  great  one  grew  lighter ;  so  industrious,  that  she 
made  both  money  and  friends  by  pretty  things  she 
worked  and  sold  to  her  many  visitors.  And,  best  of 
all,  so  wise  and  sweet  that  she  seemed  to  get  good  out 
of  everything,  and  make  her  poor  room  a  sort  of  chapel 
where  people  went  for  comfort,  counsel,  and  an  example 
of  a  pious  life.  So,  you  see,  Lucinda  was  not  so  very 
miserable  after  all." 

"  Well,  if  I  could  not  be  as  I  was,  I  'd  like  to  be  a 
woman  like  that.  Only,  I  hope  I  shall  not ! "  answered 
Jill,  thoughtfully  at  first,  then  coming  out  so  decidedly 


JILL'S  MISSION.  81 

with  the  last  words  that  it  was  evident  the  life  of  a 
bedridden  saint  was  not  at  all  to  her  mind. 

"  So  do  I ;  and  I  mean  to  believe  that  you  will  not. 
Meantime,  we  can  try  to  make  the  waiting  as  useful 
and  pleasant  as  possible.  This  painful  little  back  will 
be  a  sort  of  conscience  to  remind  you  of  what  you 
ought  to  do  and  leave  undone,  and  so  you  can  be  learn 
ing  obedience.  Then,  when  the  body  is  strong,  it  will 
have  formed  a  good  habit  to  make  duty  easier  ;  and 
my  Lucinda  can  be  a  sweet  example,  even  while  lying 
here,  if  she  chooses." 

"  Can  I  ?  "  and  Jill's  eyes  were  full  of  softer  tears  as 
the  comfortable,  cheering  words  sank  into  her  heart,  to 
blossom  slowly  by  and  by  into  her  life,  for  this  was  to 
be  a  long  lesson,  hard  to  learn,  but  very  useful  in  the 
years  to  come. 

When  the  boys  returned,  after  the  Latin  was  recited 
and  peace  restored,  Jack  showed  her  a  recovered  stamp 
promptly  paid  by  Frank,  who  was  as  just  as  he  was 
severe,  and  Jill  asked  for  the  old  red  one,  though  she 
did  not  tell  why  she  wanted  it,  nor  show  it  put  away 
in  the  spelling-book,  a  little  seal  upon  a  promise  made 
to  be  kept. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
MERRY  AND  MOLLY. 

NOW  let  us  see  how  the  other  missionaries  got  on 
with  their  tasks. 

Farmer  Grant  was  a  thrifty,  well-to-do  man,  anxious 
to  give  his  children  greater  advantages  than  he  had 
enjoyed,  and  to  improve  the  fine  place  of  which  he  was 
justly  proud.  Mrs.  Grant  was  a  notable  housewife,  as 
ambitious  and  industrious  as  her  husband,  but  too  busy 
to  spend  any  time  on  the  elegancies  of  life,  though 
always  ready  to  help  the  poor  and  sick  like  a  good 
neighbor  and  Christian  woman.  The  three  sons  — 
Tom,  Dick,  and  Harry  —  were  big  fellows  of  seven 
teen,  nineteen,  and  twenty-one ;  the  first  two  on  the 
farm,  and  the  elder  in  a  store  just  setting  up  for 
himself.  Kind-hearted  but  rough-mannered  youths, 
who  loved  Merry  very  much,  but  teased  her  sadly 
about  her  "fine  lady  airs,"  as  they  called  her  dainty 
ways  and  love  of  beauty. 

Merry  was  a  thoughtful  girl,  full  of  innocent  fancies, 
refined  tastes,  and  romantic  dreams,  in  which  no  one 
sympathized  at  home,  though  she  was  the  pet  of  the 
family.  It  did  seem,  to  an  outsider,  as  if  the  delicate 
little  creature  had  got  there  by  mistake,  for  she  looked 
very  like  a  tea-rose  in  a  field  of  clover  and  dandelions, 


MERRY  AND  MOLLY.  83 

whose  highest  aim  in  life  was  to  feed  cows  and  help 
make  root  beer. 

When  the  girls  talked  over  the  new  society,  it  -pleased 
Merry  very  much,  and  she  decided  not  only  to  try  and 
love  work  better,  but  to  convert  her  family  to  a  liking 
for  pretty  things,  as  she  called  her  own  more  cultivated 
tastes. 

"  I  will  begin  at  once,  and  show  them  that  I  don't 
mean  to  shirk  rny  duty,  though  I  do  want  to  be  nice," 
thought  she,  as  she  sat  at  supper  one  night  and  looked 
about  her,  planning  her  first  move. 

Not  a  very  cheering  prospect  for  a  lover  of  the 
beautiful,  certainly,  for  the  big  kitchen,  though  as  neat 
as  wax,  had  nothing  lovely  in  it,  except  a  red  geranium 
blooming  at  the  window.  Nor  were  the  people  all 
that  could  be  desired,  in  some  respects,  as  they  sat 
about  the  table  shovelling  in  pork  and  beans  with  their 
knives,  drinking  tea  from  their  saucers,  and  laughing 
out  with  a  hearty  "  Haw,  haw,"  when  anything  amused 
them.  Yet  the  boys  were  handsome,  strong  specimens, 
the  farmer  a  hale,  benevolent-looking  man,  the  house 
wife  a  pleasant,  sharp-eyed  matron,  who  seemed  to  find 
comfort  in  looking  often  at  the  bright  face  at  her  elbow, 
with  the  broad  forehead,  clear  eyes,  sweet  mouth,  and 
quiet  voice  that  came  like  music  in  among  the  loud 
masculine  ones,  or  the  quick,  nervous  tones  of  a  woman 
always  in  a  hurry. 

Merry's  face  was  so  thoughtful  that  evening  that 
her  father  observed  it,  for,  when  at  home,  he  watched 
her  as  one  watches  a  kitten,  glad  to  see  anything  so 
pretty,  young,  and  happy,  at  its  play. 

"  Little  daughter  has  got  something  on  her  mind,  I 
mistrust.  Come  and  tell  father  all  about  it,"  he  said, 


84  JACK  AND  JILL. 

with  a  sounding  slap  on  his  broad  knee  as  he  turned 
his  chair  from  the  table  to  the  ugly  stove,  where  three 
pairs  of  wet  boots  steamed  underneath,  and  a  great 
kettle  of  cider  apple-sauce  simmered  above. 

"  When  I  've  helped  clear  up,  I  '11  come  and  talk. 
Now,  mother,  you  sit  down  and  rest;  Roxy  and  I  can 
do  everything,"  answered  Merry,  patting  the  old  rock 
ing-chair  so  invitingly  that  the  tired  woman  could  not 
resist,  especially  as  watching  the  kettle  gave  her  an 
excuse  for  obeying. 

"  Well,  I  don'%t  care  if  I  do,  for  I  've  been  on  my 
feet  since  five  o'clock.  Be  sure  you  cover  things  up, 
and  shut  the  buttery  door,  and  put  the  cat  down  cel 
lar,  and  sift  your  meal.  I  '11  see  to  the  buckwheats  last 
thing  before  I  go  to  bed." 

Mrs.  Grant  subsided  with  her  knitting,  for  her  hands 
were  never  idle  ;  Tom  tilted  his  chair  back  against  the 
wall  and  picked  his  teeth  with  his  pen-knife  ;  Dick  got 
out  a  little  pot  of  grease,  to  make  the  boots  water-tight ; 
and  Harry  sat  down  at  the  small  table  to  look  over  his 
accounts,  with  an  important  air,  —  for  every  one  occu 
pied  this  room,  and  the  work  was  done  in  the  out- 
kitchen  behind. 

Merry  hated  clearing  up,  but  dutifully  did  every 
distasteful  task,  and  kept  her  eye  on  careless  Roxy  till 
all  was  in  order  ;  then  she  gladly  went  to  perch  on  her 
father's  knee,  seeing  in  all  the  faces  about  her  the  silent 
welcome  they  always  wore  for  the  "  little  one." 

"  Yes,  I  do  want  something,  but  I  know  you  will  say 
it  is  silly,"  she  began,  as  her  father  pinched  her  bloom 
ing  cheek,  with  the  wish  that  his  peaches  would  ever 
look  half  as  well. 

"  Should  n't  wonder  if  it  was  a  doll  now ; "  and  Mr. 


MERRY  AND  MOLLY.  85 

Grant  stroked  her  head  with  an  indulgent  smile,  as  if 
she  was  about  six  instead  of  fifteen. 

"  Why,  father,  you  know  I  don't !  I  have  n't  played 
with  dollies  for  years  and  years.  No  ;  I  want  to  fix  up 
my  room  pretty,  like  Jill's.  I  '11  do  it  all  myself,  and 
only  want  a  few  things,  for  I  don't  expect  it  to  look  as 
nice  as  hers." 

Indignation  gave  Merry  courage  to  state  her  wishes 
boldly,  though  she  knew  the  boys  would  laugh.  They 
did,  and  her  mother  said  in  a  tone  of  surprise,  — 

"  Why,  child,  what  more  can  you  want  ?  I  'm  sure 
your  room  is  always  as  neat  as  a  new  pin,  thanks  to 
your  bringing  up,  and  I  told  you  to  have  a  fire  there 
whenever  you  wanted  to." 

"  Let  me  have  some  old  things  out  of  the  garret,  and 
I  '11  show  you  what  I  want.  It  is  neat,  but  so  bare 
and  ugly  I  hate  to  be  there.  I  do  so  love  something 
pretty  to  look  at ! "  and  Merry  gave  a  little  shiver  of 
disgust  as  she  turned  her  eyes  away  from  the  large 
greasy  boot  Dick  was  holding  up  to  be  sure  it  was  well 
lubricated  all  round. 

"  So  do  I,  and  that 's  a  fact.  I  could  n't  get  on  with 
out  my  pretty  girl  here,  any  way.  Why,  she  touches 
up  the  old  place  better  than  a  dozen  flower-pots  in  full 
blow,"  said  the  farmer,  as  his  eye  went  from  the  scar 
let  geranium  to  the  bright  young  face  so  near  his  own, 

"  I  wish  I  had  a  dozen  in  the  sitting-room  window. 
Mother  says  they  are  not  tidy,  but  I  'd  keep  them  neat, 
and  I  know  you  'd  like  it,"  broke  in  Merry,  glad  of  the 
chance  to  get  one  of  the  long-desired  wishes  of  her 
heart  fulfilled. 

"  I  '11  fetch  you  some  next  time  I  go  over  to  Ballad's. 
Tell  me  what  you  want,  and  we  '11  have  a  posy  bed 


86  JACK  AND  JILL. 

somewhere  round,  see  if  we  don't,"  said  her  father, 
dimly  understanding  what  she  wanted. 

"  Now,  if  mother  says  I  may  fix  my  room,  I  shall  be 
satisfied,  and  I  '11  do  my  chores  without  a  bit  of  fuss,  to 
show  how  grateful  I  am,"  said  the  girl,  thanking  her 
father  with  a  kiss,  and  smiling  at  her  mother  so  wist 
fully  that  the  good  woman  could  not  refuse. 

"  You  may  have  anything  you  like  out  of  the  blue 
chest.  There's  a  lot  of  things  there  that  the  moths 
got  at  after  Grandma  died,  and  I  could  n't  bear  to 
throw  or  give  'em  away.  Trim  up  your  room  as  you 
like,  and  mind  you  don't  forget  your  part  of  the  bar 
gain,"  answered  Mrs.  Grant,  seeing  profit  in  the  plan. 

"  1  won't ;  I  '11  work  all  the  morning  to-morrow,  and 
in  the  afternoon  I  '11  get  ready  to  show  you  what  I 
call  a  nice,  pretty  room,"  answered  Merry,  looking  so 
pleased  it  seemed  as  if  another  flower  had  blossomed 
in  the  large  bare  kitchen. 

She  kept  her  word,  and  the  very  stormy  afternoon 
when  Jill  got  into  trouble,  Merry  was  working  busily 
at  her  little  bower.  In  the  blue  chest  she  found  a  vari 
ety  of  treasures,  and  ignoring  the  moth  holes,  used  them 
to  the  best  advantage,  trying  to  imitate  the  simple  com 
fort  with  a  touch  of  elegance  which  prevailed  in  Mrs. 
Minot's  back  bedroom. 

Three  faded  red-moreen  curtains  went  up  at  the  win 
dows  over  the  chilly  paper  shades,  giving  a  pleasant, 
glow  to  the  bare  walls.  A  red  quilt  with  white  stars, 
rather  the  worse  for  many  washings,  covered  the  bed, 
and  a  gay  cloth  the  table,  where  a  judicious  arrange 
ment  of  books  and  baskets  concealed  the  spots.  The 
little  air-tight  stove  was  banished,  and  a  pair  of  ancient 
andirons  shone  in  the  fire-light.  Grandma's  last  and 


MERRY  AND  MOLLY.  87 

largest  braided  rug  lay  on  the  hearth,  and  her  brass 
candlesticks  adorned  the  bureau,  over  the  mirror  of 
which  was  festooned  a  white  muslin  skirt,  tied  up  with 
Merry's  red  sash.  This  piece  of  elegance  gave  the  last 
touch  to  her  room,  she  thought,  and  she  was  very  proud 
of  it,  setting  forth  all  her  small  store  of  trinkets  in  a 
large  shell,  with  an  empty  scent  bottle,  and  a  clean  tidy 
over  the  pincushion.  On  the  walls  she  hung  three  old- 
fashioned  pictures,  which  she  ventured  to  borrow  from 
the  garret  till  better  could  be  found.  One  a  mourning 
piece,  with  a  very  tall  lady  weeping  on  an  urn  in  a 
grove  of  willows,  and  two  small  boys  in  knee  breeches 
and  funny  little  square  tails  to  their  coats,  looking  like 
cherubs  in  large  frills.  The  other  was  as  good  as  a 
bonfire,  being  an  eruption  of  Vesuvius,  and  very  lurid 
indeed,  for  the  Bay  of  Naples  was  boiling  like  a  pot, 
the  red  sky  raining  rocks,  and  a  few  distracted  people 
lying  flat  upon  the  shore.  The  third  was  a  really  pretty 
scene  of  children  dancing  round  a  May-pole,  for  though 
nearly  a  hundred  years  old,  the  little  maids  smiled  and 
the  boys  pranced  as  gayly  as  if  the  flowers  they  carried 
were  still  alive  and  sweet. 

"  Now  I  '11  call  them  all  to  see,  and  say  that  it  is 
pretty.  Then  I  '11  enjoy  it,  and  come  here  when  things 
look  dismal  and  bare  everywhere  else,"  said  Merry, 
when  at  last  it  was  done.  She  had  worked  all  the 
afternoon,  and  only  finished  at  supper  time,  so  the  can 
dles  had  to  be  lighted  that  the  toilette  might  look  its 
best,  and  impress  the  beholders  with  an  idea  of  true 
elegance.  Unfortunately,  the  fire  smoked  a  little,  and 
a  window  was  set  ajar  to  clear  the  room  ;  an  evil  dis 
posed  gust  blew  in,  wafting  the  thin  drapery  within 
reach  of  the  light,  and  when  Merry  threw  open  the 


88  JACK  AND  JILL. 

door  proudly  thinking  to  display  her  success,  she  was 
horrified  to  find  the  room  in  a  blaze,  and  half  her  labor 
all  in  vain. 

The  conflagration  was  over  in  a  minute,  however, 
for  the  boys  tore  down  the  muslin  and  stamped  out 
the  fire  with  much  laughter,  while  Mrs.  Grant  bewailed 
the  damage  to  her  carpet,  and  poor  Merry  took  refuge 
in  her  father's  arms,  refusing  to  be  comforted  in  spite 
of  his  kind  commendation  of  "  Grandma's  fixin's." 

The  third  little  missionary  had  the  hardest  time  of 
all,  and  her  first  efforts  were  not  much  more  satisfac 
tory  nor  successful  than  the  others.  Her  father  was 
away  from  morning  till  night,  and  then  had  his  paper  to 
read,  books  to  keep,  or  "a  man  to  see  down  town,"  so 
that,  after  a  hasty  word  at  tea,  he  saw  no  more  of  the 
children  till  another  evening,  as  they  were  seldom  up 
at  his  early  breakfast.  He  thought  they  were  well 
taken  care  of,  for  Miss  Bathsheba  Dawes  was  an  ener 
getic,  middle-aged  spinster  when  she  came  into  the 
family,  and  had  been  there  fifteen  years,  so  he  did  not 
observe,  what  a  woman  would  have  seen  at  once,  that 
Miss  Bat  was  getting  old  and  careless,  and  everything 
about  the  house  was  at  sixes  and  sevens.  She  took 
good  care  of  him,  and  thought  she  had  done  her  duty 
if  she  got  three  comfortable  meals,  nursed  the  children 
when  they  were  ill,  and  saw  that  the  house  did  not 
burn  up.  So  Maria  Louisa  and  Napoleon  Bonaparte 
got  on  as  they  could,  without  the  tender  cares  of  a 
mother.  Molly  had  been  a  happy-go-lucky  child,  con 
tented  with  her  pets,  her  freedom,  and  little  Boo  to 
love  ;  but  now  she  was  just  beginning  to  see  that  they 
were  not  like  other  children,  and  to  feel  ashamed  of  it. 

"  Papa  is  busy,  but  Miss  Bat  ought  to  see  to  us ;  she 


MERRY  AND  MOLLY.  89 

is  paid  for  it,  and  goodness  knows  she  has  an  easy  time 
now,  for  if  I  ask  her  to  do  anything,  she  groans  over 
her  bones,  and  tells  me  young  folks  should  wait  on 
themselves.  I  take  all  the  care  of  Boo  off  her  hands, 
but  I  can't  wash  my  own  things,  and  he  has  n't  a  decent 
trouser  to  his  blessed  little  legs.  I  'd  tell  papa,  but  it 
would  n't  do  any  good  ;  he  'd  only  say,  '  Yes,  child,  yes, 
I  '11  attend  to  it,'  and  never  do  a  thing." 

This  used  to  be  Molly's  lament,  when  some  especially 
trying  event  occurred,  and  if  the  girls  were  not  there 
to  condole  with  her,  she  would  retire  to  the  shed-cham 
ber,  call  her  nine  cats  about  her,  and,  sitting  in  the 
old  bushel  basket,  pull  her  hair  about  her  ears,  and 
scold  all  alone.  The  cats  learned  to  understand  this 
habit,  and  nobly  did  their  best  to  dispel  the  gloom 
which  now  and  then  obscured  the  sunshine  of  their 
little  mistress.  Some  of  them  would  creep  into  her 
lap  and  purr  till  the  comfortable  sound  soothed  her 
irritation ;  the  sedate  elders  sat  at  her  feet  blinking 
with  such  wise  and  sympathetic  faces,  that  she  felt  as 
if  half  a  dozen  Solomons  were  giving  her  the  sagest 
advice  ;  while  the  kittens  frisked  about,  cutting  up 
their  drollest  capers  till  she  laughed  in  spite  of  herself. 
When  the  laugh  came,  the  worst  of  the  fit  was  over, 
and  she  soon  cheered  up,  dismissing  the  consolers  with 
a  pat  all  round,  a  feast  of  good  things  from  Miss  Bat's 
larder,  and  the  usual  speech  :  — 

"  Well,  dears,  it 's  of  no  use  to  worry.  I  guess  we 
shall  get  along  somehow,  if  we  don't  fret." 

With  which  wise  resolution,  Molly  would  leave  her 
retreat  and  freshen  up  her  spirits  by  a  row  on  the  river 
or  a  romp  with  Boo,  which  always  finished  the  case. 
No\v,  however,  she  was  bound  to  try  the  new  plan  and 


90  JACK  AND  JILL. 

do  something  toward  reforming  not  only  the  boy's  con. 
dition,  but  the  disorder  and  discomfort  of  home. 

"  I  '11  play  it  is  Siam,  and  this  the  house  of  a  native, 
and  I  'm  come  to  show  the  folks  how  to  live  nicely. 
Miss  Bat  won't  know  what  to  make  of  it,  and  I  can't 
tell  her,  so  I  shall  get  some  fun  out  of  it,  any  way," 
thought  Molly,  as  she  surveyed  the  dining-room  the 
day  her  mission  began. 

The  prospect  was  not  cheering ;  and,  if  the  natives 
of  Siam  live  in  such  confusion,  it  is  high  time  they 
were  attended  to.  The  breakfast-table  still  stood  as  it 
was  left,  with  slops  of  coffee  on  the  cloth ;  bits  of 
bread,  egg-shells,  and  potato-skins  lay  about,  and  one 
lonely  sausage  was  cast  away  in  the  middle  of  a  large 
platter.  The  furniture  was  dusty,  stove  untidy,  and 
the  carpet  looked  as  if  crumbs  had  been  scattered 
to  chickens  who  declined  their  breakfast.  Boo  was 
sitting  on  the  sofa,  with  his  arm  through  a  hole  in  the 
cover,  hunting  for  some  lost  treasure  put  away  there 
for  safe  keeping,  like  a  little  magpie  as  he  was.  Molly 
fancied  she  washed  and  dressed  him  well  enough ;  but 
to-day  she  seemed  to  see  more  clearly,  and  sighed  as 
she  thought  of  the  hard  job  in  store  for  her  if  she  gave 
him  the  thorough  washing  he  needed,  and  combed  out 
that  curly  mop  of  hair. 

"  I  '11  clear  up  first  and  do  that  by  and  by.  I  ought 
to  have  a  nice  little  tub  and  good  towels,  like  Mrs. 
Minot,  and  I  will,  too,  if  I  buy  them  myself,"  she  said, 
piling  up  cups  with  an  energy  that  threatened  destruc 
tion  to  handles. 

Miss  Bat,  who  was  trailing  about  the  kitchen,  with 
her  head  pinned  up  in  a  little  plaid  shawl,  was  so  sur 
prised  by  the  demand  for  a  pan  of  hot  water  and  four 


MERRY  AND  MOLLY.  91 

clean  towels,  that  she  nearly  dropped  her  snuff-box, 
chief  comfort  of  her  lazy  soul. 

"  What  new  whimsey  now  ?  Generally,  the  dishes 
stand  round  till  I  have  time  to  pick  'em  up,  and  you 
are  off  coasting  or  careering  somewhere.  Well,  this 
tidy  fit  won't  last  long,  so  I  may  as  well  make  the  most 
of  it,"  said  Miss  Bat,  as  she  handed  out  the  required 
articles,  and  then  pushed  her  spectacles  from  the  tip  of 
her  sharp  nose  to  her  sharper  black  eyes  for  a  good 
look  at  the  girl  who  stood  primly  before  her,  with  a 
clean  apron  on  and  her  hair  braided  up  instead  of  fly 
ing  wildly  about  her  shoulders. 

"  Urnph  ! "  was  all  the  comment  that  Miss  Bat  made 
on  this  unusual  neatness,  and  she  went  on  scraping  her 
saucepans,  while  Molly  returned  to  her  work,  very  well 
pleased  with  the  effect  of  her  first  step,  for  she  felt 
that  the  bewilderment  of  Miss  Bat  would  be  a  constant 
inspiration  to  fresh  efforts. 

An  hour  of  hard  work  produced  an  agreeable  change 
in  the  abode  of  the  native,  for  the  table  was  cleared, 
room  swept  and  dusted,  fire  brightened,  and  the  holes 
in  the  sofa-covering  were  pinned  up  till  time  could  be 
found  to  mend  them.  To  be  sure,  rolls  of  lint  lay  in 
corners,  smears  of  ashes  were  on  the  stove  hearth,  and 
dust  still  lurked  on  chair  rounds  and  table  legs.  But 
too  much  must  not  be  expected  of  a  new  convert,  so  the 
young  missionary  sat  down  to  rest,  well  pleased  and 
ready  for  another  attempt  as  soon  as  she  could  decide 
in  what  direction  it  should  be  made.  She  quailed  be 
fore  Boo  as  she  looked  at  the  unconscious  innocent 
peacefully  playing  with  the  spotted  dog,  now  bereft  of 
his  tail,  and  the  lone  sausage  with  which  he  was  attempt 
ing  to  feed  the  hungry  animal,  whose  red  mouth  always 
gaped  for  more. 


92  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"It  will  be  an  awful  job,  and  he  is  so  happy  I  won't 
plague  him  yet.  Guess  I  '11  go  and  put  my  room  to 
rights  first,  and  pick  up  some  clean  clothes  to  put  on 
him,  if  he  is  alive  after  I  get  through  with  him," 
thought  Molly,  foreseeing  a  stormy  passage  for  the 
boy,  who  hated  a  bath  as  much  as  some  people  hate  a 
trip  across  the  Atlantic. 

Up  she  went,  and  finding  the  fire  out  felt  discouraged, 
thought  she  would  rest  a  little  more,  so  retired  under 
the  blankets  to  read  one  of  the  Christmas  books.  The 
dinner-bell  rang  while  she  was  still  wandering  happily 
in  "  Nelly's  Silver  Mine,"  and  she  ran  down  to  find 
that  Boo  had  laid  out  a  railroad  all  across  her  neat 
room,  using  bits  of  coal  for  sleepers  and  books  for  rails, 
over  which  he  was  dragging  the  yellow  sled  laden  with 
a  dismayed  kitten,  the  tailless  dog,  and  the  remains  of 
the  sausage,  evidently  on  its  way  to  the  tomb,  for  Boo 
took  bites  at  it  now  and  then,  no  other  lunch  being 
offered  him. 

"  Oh  dear !  why  can't  boys  play  without  making 
such  a  mess,"  sighed  Molly,  picking  up  the  feathers 
from  the  duster  with  which  Boo  had  been  trying  to 
make  a  "  cocky-doo  "  of  the  hapless  dog.  "  I  '11  wash 
him  right  after  dinner,  and  that  will  keep  him  out  of 
mischief  for  a  while,"  she  thought,  as  the  young  en 
gineer  unsuspiciously  proceeded  to  ornament  his  already 
crocky  countenance  with  squash,  cranberry  sauce,  and 
gravy,  till  he  looked  more  like  a  Fiji  chief  in  full  war 
paint  than  a  Christian  boy. 

"  I  want  two  pails  of  hot  water,  please,  Miss  Bat,  and 
the  big  tub,"  said  Molly,  as  the  ancient  handmaid 
emptied  her  fourth  cup  of  tea,  for  she  dined  with  the 
family,  and  enjoyed  her  own  good  cooking  in  its 
prime. 


MERRY  AND  MOLLY.  93 

"  What  are  you  going  to  wash  now  ?  " 

"  Boo  —  I  'm  sure  he  needs  it  enough  ;  "  and  Molly 
could  not  help  laughing  as  the  victim  added  to  his 
brilliant  appearance  by  smearing  the  colors  all  together 
with  a  rub  of  two  grimy  hands,  making  a  fine  "  Turner," 
t>f  himself. 

"  Now,  Maria  Louisa  Bemis,  you  ain't  going  to  cut  up 
no.  capers  with  that  child  !  The  idea  of  a  hot  bath  in 
the  middle  of  the  day,  and  him  full  of  dinner,  and 
croupy  into  the  bargain  !  Wet  a  corner  of  a  towel  at 
the  kettle-spout  and  polish  him  off  if  you  like,  but  you 
won't  risk  his  life  in  no  bath-tubs  this  cold  day." 

Miss  Bat's  word  was  law  in  some  things,  so  Molly 
had  to  submit,  and  took  Boo  away,  saying,  loftily,  as 
she  left  the  room,  — 

u  I  shall  ask  father,  and  do  it  to-night,  for  I  will  not 
have  my  brother  look  like  a  pig." 

"  My  patience  !  how  the  Siamese  do  leave  their 
things  round,"  she  exclaimed,  as  she  surveyed  her  room 
after  making  up  the  fire  and  polishing  off  Boo.  "  I  '11 
put  things  in  order,  and  then  mend  up  my  rags,  if  I  can 
find  my  thimble.  Now,  let  me  see;"  and  she  went  to 
exploring  her  closet,  bureau,  and  table,  finding  such 
disorder  everywhere  that  her  courage  nearly  gave 
out. 

She  had  clothes  enough,  but  all  needed  care ;  even 
her  best  dress  had  two  buttons  off,  and  her  Sunday 
hat  but  one  string.  Shoes,  skirts,  books,  and  toys  lay 
about,  and  her  drawers  were  a  perfect  chaos  of  soiled 
ruffles,  odd  gloves,  old  ribbons,  boot  lacings,  and  bits 
of  paper. 

"  Oh,  my  heart,  what  a  muddle !  Mrs.  Minot 
wouldn't  think  much  of  me  if  she  could  see  that," 


94  JACK  AND  JILL. 

said  Molly,  recalling  how  that  lady  once  said  she  could 
judge  a  good  deal  of  a  little  girl's  character  and  habits 
by  a  peep  at  her  top  drawer,  and  went  on,  with  great 
success,  to  guess  how  each  of  the  school-mates  kept 
her  drawer. 

"  Come,  missionary,  clear  up,  and  don't  let  me  find 
such  a  glory-hole  again,  or  I  '11  report  you  to  the  soci 
ety,"  said  Molly,  tipping  the  whole  drawer-full  out 
upon  the  bed,  and  beguiling  the  tiresome  job  by  keep 
ing  up  the  new  play. 

Twilight  came  before  it  was  done,  and  a  great  pile 
of  things  loomed  up  on  her  table,  with  no  visible  means 
of  repair,  —  for  Molly's  work-basket  was  full  of  nuts, 
and  her  thimble  down  a  hole  in  the  shed-floor,  where 
the  cats  had  dropped  it  in  their  play. 

"  I  '11  ask  Bat  for  hooks  and  tape,  and  papa  for  some 
money  to  buy  scissors  and  things,  for  I  don't  know 
where  mine  are.  Glad  I  can't  do  any  more  now! 
Being  neat  is  such  hard  work!  "  and  Molly  threw  her 
self  down  on  the  rug  beside  the  old  wooden  cradle  in 
which  Boo  was  blissfully  rocking,  with  a  cargo  of  toys 
aboard. 

She  watched  her  time,  and  as  soon  as  her  father  had 
done  supper,  she  hastened  to  say,  before  he  got  to  his 
desk,  — 

"  Please,  papa,  I  want  a  dollar  to  get  some  brass  but 
tons  and  things  to  fix  Boo's  clothes  with.  He  wore  a 
hole -in  his  new  trousers  coasting  down  the  Kembles' 
steps.  And  can't  I  wash  him  ?  He  needs  it,  and  Miss 
Bat  won't  let  me  have  a  tub." 

"  Certainly,  child,  certainly ;  do  what  you  like,  only 
don't  keep  me.  I  must  be  off,  or  I  shall  miss  Jackson, 
and  he  's  the  man  I  want;"  and,  throwing  down  two 


MERRY  AND  MOLLY.  95 

dollars  instead  of  one,  Mr.  Bemis  hurried  away,  with  a 
vague  impression  that  Boo  had  swallowed  a  dozen  brass 
buttons,  and  Miss  Bat  had  been  coasting  somewhere  in 
a  bath-pan  ;  but  catching  Jackson  was  important,  so  he 
did  not  stop  to  investigate. 

Armed  with  the  paternal  permission,  Molly  carried 
her  point,  and  oh,  what  a  dreadful  evening  poor  Boo 
spent !  First,  he  was  decoyed  upstairs  an  hour  too 
soon,  then  put  in  a  tub  by  main  force  and  sternly 
scrubbed,  in  spite  of  shrieks  that  brought  Miss  Bat  to 
the  locked  door  to  condole  with  the  sufferer,  scold  the 
scrubber,  and  depart,  darkly  prophesying  croup  before 
morning. 

u  He  always  howls  when  he  is  washed  ;  but  I  shall 
do  it,  since  you  won't,  and  he  must  get  used  to  it.  I 
will  not  have  people  tell  me  he 's  neglected,  if  I  can 
help  it,"  cried  Molly,  working  away  with  tears  in  her 
eyes  —  for  it  was  as  hard  for  her  as  for  Boo ;  but  she 
meant  to  be  thorough  for  once  in  her  life,  no  matter 
what  happened. 

When  the  worst  was  over,  she  coaxed  him  with 
candy  and  stories  till  the  long  task  of  combing  out  the 
curls  was  safely  done ;  then,  in  the  clean  night-gown 
with  a  blue  button  newly  sewed  on,  she  laid  him  in 
bed,  worn  out,  but  sweet  as  a  rose. 

"  Now,  say  your  prayers,  darling,  and  go  to  sleep, 
with  the  nice  red  blanket  all  tucked  round  so  you  won't 
get  cold,"  said  Molly,  rather  doubtful  of  the  effect  of 
the  wet  head. 

"  No,  I  won't !  Going  to  sleep  now  !  "  and  Boo  shut 
his  eyes  wearily,  feeling  that  his  late  trials  had  not  left 
him  in  a  prayerful  mood. 

44  Then  you  '11  be  a  real  little  heathen,  as  Mrs.  Pecq 


96  JACK  AND  JILL. 

called  you,  and  I  don't  know  what  I  shall  do  with  you," 
said  Molly,  longing  to  cuddle  rather  than  scold  the 
little  fellow,  whose  soul  needed  looking  after  as  well  as 
his  body. 

"No,  no  ;  I  wron't  be  a  heevin  !  I  don't  want  to  be 
fro  wed  to  the  trockindiles.  I  will  say  my  prayers  !  oh, 
I  will !  "  and,  rising  in  his  bed,  Boo  did  so,  with  the 
devotion  of  an  infant  Samuel,  for  he  remembered  the 
talk  when  the  society  was  formed. 

Molly  thought  her  labors  were  over  for  that  night, 
and  soon  went  to  bed,  tired  with  her  first  attempts. 
But  toward  morning  she  was  wakened  by  the  hoarse 
breathing  of  the  boy,  and  was  forced  to  patter  away  to 
Miss  Bat's  room,  humbly  asking  for  the  squills,  and  con 
fessing  that  the  prophecy  had  come  to  pass. 

"  I  knew  it !  Bring  the  child  to  me,  and  don't  fret. 
I  '11  see  to  him,  and  next  time  you  do  as  I  say,"  was 
the  consoling  welcome  she  received  as  the  old  lady 
popped  up  a  sleepy  but  anxious  face  in  a  large  flannel 
cap,  and  shook  the  bottle  with  the  air  of  a  general  who 
had  routed  the  foe  before  and  meant  to  do  it  again. 

Leaving  her  little  responsibility  in  Miss  Bat's  arms, 
Molly  retired  to  wet  her  pillow  with  a  few  remorseful 
tears,  and  to  fall  asleep,  wondering  if  real  missionaries 
ever  killed  their  pupils  in  the  process  of  conversion. 

So  the  girls  all  failed  in  the  beginning  ;  but  they  did 
not  give  up,  and  succeeded  better  next  time,  as  we 
shall  see. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE   DEBATING    CLUB. 

"  T    OOK  here,  old  man,  we  ought  to  have  a  meet- 

-L'  ing.  Holidays  are  over,  and  we  must  brace  up 
and  attend  to  business,"  said  Frank  to  Gus,  as  they 
strolled  out  of  the  school-yard  one  afternoon  in  Jan 
uary,  apparently  absorbed  in  conversation,  but  in  real 
ity  waiting  for  a  blue  cloud  and  a  scarlet  feather  to 
appear  on  the  steps. 

"All  right.  When,  where,  and  what?"  asked  Gus, 
who  was  a  man  of  few  words. 

"  To-night,  our  house,  subject,  c  Shall  girls  go  to 
college  with  us?'  Mother  said  we  had  better  be  mak 
ing  up  our  minds,  because  every  one  is  talking  about 
it,  and  we  shall  have  to  be  on  one  side  or  the  other,  so 
we  may  as  well  settle  it  now,"  answered  Frank,  for 
there  was  an  impression  among  the  members  that  all 
vexed  questions  would  be  much  helped  by  the  united 
eloquence  and  wisdom  of  the  club. 

"  Very  good ;  I  '11  pass  the  word  and  be  there. 
Hullo,  Neddy!  The  D.  C.  meets  to-night,  at  Minot's, 
seven  sharp.  Co-ed,  &c.,"  added  Gus,  losing  no  time, 
as  a  third  boy  came  briskly  round  the  corner,  with  a 
little  bag  in  his  hand. 

"  I  '11  come.  Got  home  an  hour  earlier  to-night,  and 
7 


98  JACK  AND  JILL. 

thought  I  'd  look  you  up  as  I  went  by,"  responded  Ed 
Devlin,  as  he  took  possession  of  the  third  post,  with  a 
glance  toward  the  schoolhouse  to  see  if  a  seal-skin 
cap,  with  a  long,  yellow  braid  depending  therefrom? 
was  anywhere  in  sight. 

"  Very  good  of  you,  I  'm  sure,"  said  Gus,  ironically, 
not  a  "bit  deceived  by  this  polite  attention. 

"  The  longest  way  round  is  sometimes  the  shortest 
way  home,  hey,  Ed  ?  "  and  Frank  gave  him  a  playful 
poke  that  nearly  sent  him  off  his  perch. 

Then  they  all  laughed  at  some  joke  of  their  own, 
and  Gus  added,  "No  girls  coming  to  hear  us  to-night. 
Don't  think  it,  my  son." 

"  More 's  the  pity,"  and  Ed  shook  his  head  regret 
fully  over  the  downfall  of  his  hopes. 

"  Can't  help  it ;  the  other  fellows  say  they  spoil  the 
fun,  so  we  have  to  give  in,  sometimes,  for  the  sake  of 
peace  and  quietness.  Don't  mind  having  them  a  bit 
myself,"  said  Frank,  in  such  a  tone  of  cheerful  resig 
nation  that  they  laughed  again,  for  the  "  Triangle,"  as 
the  three  chums  were  called,  always  made  merry  music. 

"  We  must  have  a  game  party  next  week.  The  girls 
like  that,  and  so  do  I,"  candidly  observed  Gus,  whose 
pleasant  parlors  were  the  scene  of  many  such  frolics. 

"  And  so  do  your  sisters  and  your  cousins  and  your 
aunts,"  hummed  Ed,  for  Gus  was  often  called  Admiral 
because  he  really  did  possess  three  sisters,  two  cousins, 
and  four  aunts,  besides  mother  and  grandmother,  all 
living  in  the  big  house  together. 

The  boys  promptly  joined  in  the  popular  chorus,  and 
other  voices  all  about  the  yard  took  it  up,  for  the 
"  Pinafore  "  epidemic  raged  fearfully  in  Harmony  Vil 
lage  that  winter. 


ff$vflBHMk_/J       S  \  ^"T«    Xf  ~~-------- 

ll»« 


HARMONY   SCHOOLHOUSE. 

The  three  boys  leaped  off  the  posts,  as  a  group  of  girls  came  chattering 
down  the  path  —  PAGE  99. 


THE  DEBATING   CLUB.  99 

"  How 's  business  ? "  asked  Gus,  when  the  song 
ended,  for  Ed  had  not  returned  to  school  in  the 
autumn,  but  had  gone  into  a  store  in  the  city. 

"  Dull ;  things  will  look  up  toward  spring,  they  say. 
I  get  on  well  enough,  but  I  miss  you  fellows  dread 
fully  ; "  and  Ed  put  a  hand  on  the  broad  shoulder  of 
each  friend,  as  if  he  longed  to  be  a  school-boy  again. 

"Better  give  it  up  and  go  to  college  with  me  next 
year,"  said  Frank,  who  was  preparing  for  Boston  Uni 
versity,  while  Gus  fitted  for  Harvard. 

"  No  ;  I  've  chosen  business,  and  I  mean  to  stick  to 
it,  so  don't  you  unsettle  my  mind.  Have  you  practised 
that  March  ?  "  asked  Ed,  turning  to  a  gayer  subject, 
for  he  had  his  little  troubles,  but  always  looked  on  the 
bright  side  of  things. 

"  Skating  is  so  good,  I  don't  get  much  time.  Come 
early,  and  we  '11  have  a  turn  at  it." 

"  I  will.     Must  run  home  now." 

"  Pretty  cold  loafing  here." 

"  Mail  is  in  by  this  time." 

And  with  these  artless  excuses  the  three  boys  leaped 
off  the  posts,  as  if  one  spring  moved  them,  as  a  group 
of  girls  came  chattering  down  the  path.  The  blue 
cloud  floated  away  beside  Frank,  the  scarlet  feather 
marched  off  with  the  Admiral,  while  the  fur  cap  nod 
ded  to  the  gray  hat  as  two  happy  faces  smiled  at  each 
other. 

The  same  thing  often  happened,  for  twice  a-day  the 
streets  were  full  of  young  couples  walking  to  and  from 
school  together,  smiled  at  by  the  elders,  and  laughed 
at  by  the  less  susceptible  boys  and  girls,  who  went 
alone  or  trooped  along  in  noisy  groups.  The  prudent 
mothers  had  tried  to  stop  this  guileless  custom,  but 


100  JACK  AND  JILL. 

found  it  very  difficult,  as  the  fathers  usually  sym 
pathized  with  their  sons,  and  dismissed  the  matter 
with  the  comfortable  phrase,  "Never  mind;  boys  will 
be  boys."  "  Not  forever,"  returned  the  anxious  mam 
mas,  seeing  the  tall  lads  daily  grow  more  manly,  and 
the  pretty  daughters  fast  learning  to  look  demure  when 
certain  names  were  mentioned. 

It  could  not  be  stopped  without  great  parental  stern 
ness  and  the  danger  of  deceit,  for  co-education  will  go 
on  outside  of  school  if  not  inside,  and  the  safest  way 
is  to  let  sentiment  and  study  go  hand  in  hand,  with 
teachers  and  parents  to  direct  and  explain  the  great 
lesson  all  are  the  better  for  learning  soon  or  late.  So 
the  elders  had  to  give  in,  acknowledging  that  this  sud 
den  readiness  to  go  to  school  was  a  comfort,  that  the 
new  sort  of  gentle  emulation  worked  wonders  in  lazy 
girls  and  boys,  and  that  watching  these  ';  primrose 
friendships "  bud,  blossom,  and  die  painless  deaths, 
gave  a  little  touch  of  romance  to  their  own  work-a-day 
lives. 

"  On  the  whole  I  'd  rather  have  my  sons  walking, 
playing,  and  studying  with  bright,  well-mannered  girls, 
than  always  knocking  about  with  rough  boys,"  said 
Mrs.  Minot  at  one  of  the  Mothers'  Meetings,  where 
the  good  ladies  met  to  talk  over  their  children,  and 
help  one  another  to  do  their  duty  by  them. 

"  I  find  that  Gus  is  more  gentle  with  his  sisters  since 
Juliet  took  him  in  hand,  for  he  wants  to  stand  well 
with  her,  and  they  report  him  if  he  troubles  them.  I 
really  see  no  harm  in  the  little  friendship,  though 
I  never  had  any  such  when  I  was  a  girl,"  said  Mrs. 
Burton,  who  adored  her  one  boy  and  was  his  con 
fidante. 


THE   DEBATING   CLUB.  101 

"  My  Merry  seems  to  be  contented  with  her  broth 
ers  so  far,  but  I  should  n't  wonder  if  I  had  ray  hancj^j 
full  by  and  by,"  added  Mrs.  Grant,  who  already  fore 
saw  that  her  sweet  little  daughter  would  be  sought 
after  as  soon  as  she  should  lengthen  her  skirts  and  turn 
up  her  bonny  brown  hair. 

Molly  Loo  had  no  mother  to  say  a  word  for  her,  but 
she  settled  matters  for  herself  by  holding  fast  to  Merry, 
and  declaring  that  she  would  have  no  escort  but  faith 
ful  Boo. 

It  is  necessary  to  dwell  a  moment  upon  this  new 
amusement,  because  it  was  not  peculiar  to  Harmony 
Village,  but  appears  everywhere  as  naturally  as  the 
game  parties  and  croquet  which  have  taken  the  place 
of  the  husking  frolics  and  apple-bees  of  olden  times, 
and  it  is  impossible  to  dodge  the  subject  if  one 
attempts  to  write  of  boys  and  girls  as  they  really  are 
nowadays.  » 

"  Here,  my  hero,  see  how  you  like  this.  If  it  suits, 
you  will  be  ready  to  march  as  soon  as  the  doctor  gives 
the  word,"  said  Ralph,  coming  into  the  Bird  Room 
that  evening  with  a  neat  little  crutch  under  his  arm. 

"  Ha,  ha,  that  looks  fine  !  I  'd  like  to  try  it  right  off, 
but  I  won't  till  I  get  leave.  Did  you  make  it  your 
self,  Ral  ?  "  asked  Jack,  handling  it  with  delight,  as 
he  sat  bolt  upright,  with  his  leg  on  a  rest,  for  he  was 
•getting  on  capitally  now. 

"  Mostly.     Rather  a  neat  job,  I  flatter  myself." 

"  I  should  say  so.  What  a  clever  fellow  you  are  ! 
Any  new  inventions  lately?"  asked  Frank,  coming  up 
to  examine  and  admire. 

"  Only  an  anti-snoring  machine  and  an  elbow-pad," 
answered  Ralph,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  as  if 
reminded  of  something  funny. 


102  JACK  AND  JILL. 

41  Go  on,  and  tell  about  them.  I  never  heard  of  an 
anti-snorer.  Jack  better  have  one,"  said  Frank,  inter 
ested  at  once. 

"  Well,  a  rich  old  lady  kept  her  family  awake  with 
that  lively  music,  so  she  sent  to  Shirtman  and  Codleff 
for  something  to  stop  it.  They  thought  it  was  a  good 
joke,  and  told  me  to  see  what  I  could  do.  I  thought 
it  over,  and  got  up  the  nicest  little  affair  you  ever 
saw.  It  went  over  the  mouth,  and  had  a  tube  to  fit 
the  ear,  so  when  the  lady  snored  she  woke  herself  up 
and  stopped  it.  It  suited  exactly.  I  think  of  taking 
out  a  patent,"  concluded  Ralph,  joining  in  the  boys' 
laugh  at  the  droll  idea. 

"  What  was  the  pad  ? "  asked  Frank,  returning  to 
the  small  model  of  an  engine  he  was  making. 

"  Oh,  that  was  a  mere  trifle  for  a  man  who  had  a 
tender  elbow-joint  and  wanted  something  to  protect  it. 
I  made  a  little  pad  to  fit  on,  and  his  crazy-bone  was 
safe." 

"I  planned  to  have  you  make  me  a  new  leg  if  this 
one  was  spoilt,"  said  Jack,  sure  that  his  friend  could 
invent  anything  under  the  sun. 

"  I  'd  do  my  best  for  you.  I  made  a  hand  for  a  fel 
low  once,  and  that  got  me  my  place,  you  know,"  an 
swered  Ralph,  who  thought  little  of  such  mechanical 
trifles,  and  longed  to  be  painting  portraits  or  modelling 
busts,  being  an  artist  as  well  as  an  inventor. 

Here  Gus,  Ed,  and  several  other  boys  came  in,  and 
the  conversation  became  general.  Grif,  Chick,  and 
Brickbat  were  three  young  gentlemen  whose  own 
respectable  names  were  usually  ignored,  and  they 
cheerfully  answered  to  these  nicknames. 

As  the  clock  struck  seven,  Frank,  who  ruled  the 


THE  DEBATING   CLUB.  103 

club  with  a  rod  of  iron  when  Chairman,  took  his  place 
behind  the  study  table.  Seats  stood  about  it,  and  a 
large,  shabby  book  lay  before  Gus,  who  was  Secretary, 
and  kept  the  records  with  a. lavish  expenditure  of  ink, 
to  judge  by  the  blots.  The  members  took  their  seats, 
and  nearly  all  tilted  back  their  chairs  and  put  their 
hands  in  their  pockets,  to  keep  them  out  of  mischief ; 
for,  as  every  one  knows,  it  is  impossible  for  two  lads 
to  be  near  each  other  and  refrain  from  tickling  or 
pinching.  Frank  gave  three  raps  with  an  old  croquet- 
mallet  set  on  a  short  handle,  and  with  much  dignity 
opened  the  meeting. 

"  Gentlemen,  the  business  of  the  club  will  be  attend 
ed  to,  and  then  we  will  discuss  the  question,  '  Shall 
girls  go  to  our  colleges  ?  '  The  Secretary  will  now  read 
the  report  of  the  last  meeting." 

Clearing  his  throat,  Gus  read  the  following  brief 
and  elegant  report :  — 

"  Club  met,  December  18th,  at  the  house  of  G.  Burton,  Esq. 
Subject :  '  Is  summer  or  winter  best  fun  1 '  A  lively  pow-wow. 
About  evenly  divided.  J.  Flint  fined  five  cents  for  disrespect  to 
the  Chair.  A  collection  of  forty  cents  taken  up  to  pay  for  break 
ing  a  pane  of  glass  during  a  free  fight  of  the  members  on  the 
door-step.  E.  Devlin  was  chosen  Secretary  for  the  coming  year, 
and  a  new  book  contributed  by  the  Chairman." 

"  That 's  all." 

"Is  there  any  other  business  before  the  meeting?" 
asked  Frank,  as  the  reader  closed  the  old  book  with  a 
slam  and  shoved  the  new  one  across  the  table. 

Ed  rose,  and  glancing  about  him  with  an  appealing 
look,  said,  as  if  sure  his  proposition  would  not  be  well 
received,  "  I  wish  to  propose  the  name  of  a  new  mem 
ber.  Bob  Walker  wants  to  join,  and  /  think  we 


104  JACK  AND  JILL. 

ought  to  let  him.  He  is  trying  to  behave  well,  and  I 
am  sure  we  could  help  him.  Can't  we  ?  " 

All  the  boys  looked  sober,  and  Joe,  otherwise 
Brickbat,  said,  bluntly,  "  I  won't.  He 's  a  bad  lot,  and 
we  don't  want  any  such  here.  Let  him  go  with  chaps 
of  his  own  sort." 

**  That  is  just  what  I  want  to  keep  him  from  !  He  's 
a  good-hearted  boy  enough,  only  no  one  looks  after 
him ;  so  he  gets  into  scrapes,  as  we  should,  if  we  were 
in  his  place,  I  dare  say.  He  wants  to  come  here,  and 
would  be  so  proud  if  he  was  let  in,  I  know  he'd 
behave.  Come  now,  let 's  give  him  a  chance,"  and  Ed 
looked  at  Gus  and  Frank,  sure  that  if  they  stood  by 
him  he  should  carry  his  point. 

But  Gus  shook  his  head,  as  if  doubtful  of  the  wis 
dom  of  the  plan,  and  Frank  said  gravely :  "  You 
know  we  made  the  rule  that  the  number  should  never 
be  over  eight,  and  we  cannot  break  it." 

"  You  need  n't.  I  can't  be  here  half  the  time,  so  1 
will  resign  and  let  Bob  have  my  place,"  began  Ed,  but 
he  was  silenced  by  shouts  of  "  No,  no,  you  shan't ! " 
"  We  won't  let  you  off ! "  "  Club  would  go  to  smash, 
if  you  back  out !  " 

"  Let  him  have  my  place ;  I  'm  the  youngest,  and 
you  won't  miss  me,"  cried  Jack,  bound  to  stand  by  Ed 
at  all  costs. 

"  We  might  do  that,"  said  Frank,  who  did  object  to 
small  boys,  though  willing  to  admit  this  particular 
one. 

"  Better  make  a  new  rule  to  have  ten  members,  and 
admit  both  Bob  and  Tom  Grant,"  said  Ralph,  whereat 
Grif  grinned  and  Joe  scowled,  for  one  lad  liked  Merry's 
big  brother  and  the  other  did  not. 


THE  DEBATING   CLUB.  105 

"That's  a  good  idea!  Put  it  to  vote,"  said  Gus, 
too  kind-hearted  to  shut  the  door  on  any  one. 

"  First  I  want  to  ask  if  all  you  fellows  are  ready  to 
stand  by  Bob,  out  of  the  club  as  well  as  in,  for  it  won't 
do  much  good  to  be  kind  to  him  here  and  cut  him  at 
school  and  in  the  street,"  said  Ed,  heartily  in  earnest 
about  the  matter. 

"  I  will !  "  cried  Jack,  ready  to  follow  where  his  be 
loved  friend  led,  and  the  others  nodded,  unwilling  to  be 
outdone  by  the  youngest  member. 

"  Good !  With  all  of  us  to  lend  a  hand,  we  can  do 
a  great  deal ;  and  I  tell  you,  boys,  it  is  time,  if  we 
want  to  keep  poor  Bob  straight.  We  all  turn  our 
backs  on  him,  so  he  loafs  round  the  tavern,  and  goes 
with  fellows  we  don't  care  to  know.  But  he  is  n't  bad 
yet,  and  we  can  keep  him  up,  I  'm  sure,  if  we  just  try. 
I  hope  to  get  him  into  the  Lodge,  and  that  will  be  half 
the  battle,  won't  it,  Frank  ?  "  added  Ed,  sure  that  this 
suggestion  would  have  weight  with  the  honorable 
Chairman. 

"  Bring  him  along ;  I  'm  with  you ! "  answered  Frank, 
making  up  his  mind  at  once,  for  he  had  joined  the 
Temperance  Lodge  four  years  ago,  and  already  six 
boys  had  followed  his  example. 

"  He  is  learning  to  smoke,  but  we  '11  make  him  drop 
it  before  it  leads  to  worse.  You  can  help  him  there, 
Admiral,  if  you  only  will,"  added  Ed,  giving  a  grateful 
look  at  one  friend,  and  turning  to  the  other. 

"  I  'm  your  man ; "  and  Gus  looked  as  if  he  knew 
what  he  promised,  for  he  had  given  up  smoking  to 
oblige  his  father,  and  kept  his  word  like  a  hero. 

"  You  other  fellows  can  do  a  good  deal  by  just  being 
kind  and  not  twitting  him  with  old  scrapes,  and  I  '11  do 


106  JACK  AND  JILL. 

anything  I  can  for  you  all  to  pay  for  this  ; "  and  Ed  sat 
down  with  a  beaming  smile,  feeling  that  his  cause  was 
won. 

The  vote  was  taken,  and  all  hands  went  up,  for 
even  surly  Joe  gave  in ;  so  Bob  and  Tom  were  duly 
elected,  and  proved  their  gratitude  for  the  honor  done 
them  by  becoming  worthy  members  of  the  club.  It 
was  only  boys'  play  now,  but  the  kind  heart  and  pure 
instincts  of  one  lad  showed  the  others  how  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  to  a  comrade  in  danger,  and  win  him 
away  from  temptation  to  the  safer  pastimes  of  their 
more  guarded  lives. 

Well  pleased  with  themselves,  —  for  every  genuine 
act  or  word,  no  matter  how  trifling  it  seems,  leaves  a 
sweet  and  strengthening  influence  behind,  —  the  mem 
bers  settled  down  to  the  debate,  which  was  never  very 
long,  and  often  only  an  excuse  for  fun  of  all  sorts. 

"Ralph, Gus,  and  Ed  are  for,  and  Brickbat,  Grif,  and 
Chick  against,  I  suppose?"  said  Frank,  surveying  his 
company  like  a  general  preparing  for  battle. 

"  No,  sir !  I  believe  in  co-everything !  "  cried  Chick, 
a  mild  youth,  who  loyally  escorted  a  chosen  damsel 
home  from  school  every  day. 

A  laugh  greeted  this  bold  declaration,  and  Chick  sat 
down,  red  but  firm. 

"I'll  speak  for  two  since  the  Chairman  can't,  and 
Jack  won't  go  against  those  who  pet  him  most  to 
death,"  said  Joe,  who,  not  being  a  favorite  with  the 
girls,  considered  them  a  nuisance  and  lost  no  oppor 
tunity  of  telling  them  so. 

"  Fire  away,  then,  since  you  are  up ; "  commanded 
Frank. 

"  Well,"  began  Joe,  feeling  too  late  how  much  he 


THE  DEBATING   CLUB.  107 

had  undertaken,  "  I  don't  know  a  great  deal  about  it, 
and  I  don't  care,  but  I  do  not  believe  in  having  girls 
at  college.  They  don't  belong  there,  nobody  wants 
'em,  and  they  'd  better  be  at  home  darning  their  stock 
ings." 

"  Yours,  too,"  put  in  Ralph,  who  had  heard  that  ar 
gument  so  often  he  was  tired  of  it. 

O 

"Of  course;  that's  what  girls  are  for.  I  don't  mind 
'em  at  school,  but  I  'd  just  as  soon  they  had  a  room  to 
themselves.  We  should  get  on  better." 

"  You  would  if  Mabel  was  n't  in  your  class  and  al 
ways  ahead  of  you,"  observed  Ed,  whose  friend  was 
a  fine  scholar,  and  he  very  proud  of  the  fact. 

"Look  here,  if  you  fellows  keep  interrupting,  I  won't 
sit  down  for  half  an  hour,"  said  Joe,  well  knowing  that 
eloquence  was  not  his  gift,  but  bound  to  have  his 
say  out. 

Deep  silence  reigned,  for  that  threat  quelled  the 
most  impatient  member,  and  Joe  prosed  on,  using  all 
the  arguments  he  had  ever  heard,  and  paying  off 
several  old  scores  by  sly  hits  of  a  personal  nature,  as 
older  orators  often  do. 

"  It  is  clear  to  my  mind  that  boys  would  get  on  bet 
ter  without  any  girls  fooling  round.  As  for  their  being 
as  smart  as  we  are,  it  is  all  nonsense,  for  some  of  'ern 
cry  over  their  lessons  every  day,  or  go  home  with 
headaches,  or  get  mad  and  scold  all  recess,  because 
something  'isn't  fair.'  No,  sir /  girls  ain't  meant  to 
know  much,  and  they  can't.  Wise  folks  say  so,  and 
I  believe  'em.  Have  n't  got  any  sisters  myself,  and  I 
don't  want  any,  for  they  don't  seem  to  amount  to 
much,  according  to  those  who  do  have  'em." 

Groans  from  Gus  and   Ed  greeted  the  closing  re- 


108  JACK  AND  JILL. 

marks  of  the  ungallant  Joe,  who  sat  down,  feeling  that 
he  had  made  somebody  squirm.  Up  jumped  Grif, 
the  delight  of  whose  life  was  practical  jokes,  which 
amiable  weakness  made  him  the  terror  of  the  girls, 
though  they  had  no  other  fault  to  find  with  the  merry 
lad. 

"Mr.  Chairman,  the  ground  I  take  is  this :  girls  have 
not  the  strength  to  go  to  college  with  us.  They 
could  n't  row  a  race,  go  on  a  lark,  or  take  care  of  them 
selves,  as  we  do.  They  are  all  well  enough  at  home, 
and  I  like  them  at  parties,  but  for  real  fun  and  go  I 
would  n't  give  a  cent  for  them,"  began  Grif,  whose 
views  of  a  collegiate  life  were  confined  to  the  enjoy 
ments  rather  than  the  studies  of  that  festive  period. 
"I  have  tried  them,  and  they  can't  stand  anything. 
They  scream  if  you  tell  them  there  is  a  mouse  in  the 
room,  and  run  if  they  see  a  big  dog.  I  just  put  a 
cockroach  in  Molly's  desk  one  day,  and  when  she 
opened  it  she  jumped  as  if  she  was  shot." 

So  did  the  gentlemen  of  the  club,  for  at  that  mo 
ment  half-a-dozen  fire-crackers  exploded  under  the 
chair  Grif  had  left,  and  flew  wildly  about  the  room. 
Order  was  with  difficulty  restored,  the  mischievous 
party  summarily  chastised  and  commanded  to  hold  his 
tongue,  under  penalty  of  ejectment  from  the  room  if 
he  spoke  again.  Firmly  grasping  that  red  and  unruly 
member,  Grif  composed  himself  to  listen,  with  his  nose 
in  the  air  and  his  eyes  shining  like  black  beads. 

Ed  was  always  the  peace-maker,  and  now,  when  he 
rose  with  his  engaging  smile,  his  voice  fell  like  oil  upon 
the  troubled  waters,  and  his  bright  face  was  full  of  the 
becoming  bashfulness  which  afflicts  youths  of  seventeen 
when  touching  upon  such  subjects  of  newly  acquired 


THE  DEBATING   CLUB.  109 

interest  as  girls  and  their  pleasant  but  perplexing 
ways. 

"It  seems  to  me  we  have  hardly  considered  the 
matter  enough  to  be  able  to  say  much.  But  I  think 
that  school  would  be  awfully  dry  and  dismal  with 
out —  ahem!  —  any  young  ladies  to  make  it  nice.  I 
would  n't  give  a  pin  to  go  if  there  was  only  a  crowd  of 
fellows,  though  I  like  a  good  game  as  well  as  any  man. 
I  pity  any  boy  who  has  no  sisters,"  continued  Ed, 
warming  up  as  he  thought  of  his  own,  who  loved  him. 
dearly,  as  well  they  might,  for  a  better  brother  never 
lived.  "  Home  would  n't  be  worth  having  without  them 
to  look  after  a  fellow,  to  keep  him  out  of  scrapes,  help 
him  with  his  lessons,  and  make  things  jolly  for  his 
friends.  I  tell  you  we  can't  do  without  girls,  and  I  'm 
not  ashamed  to  say  that  I  think  the  more  we  see  of 
them,  and  try  to  be  like  them  in  many  ways,  the 
better  men  we  shall  be  by  and  by." 

"  Hear !  hear !  "  cried  Frank,  in  his  deepest  tone,  for 
he  heartily  agreed  to  that,  having  talked  the  matter 
over  with  his  mother,  and  received  much  light  upon 
things  which  should  always  be  set  right  in  young 
heads  and  hearts.  And  who  can  do  this  so  wisely  and 
well  as  mothers,  if  they  only  will  ? 

Feeling  that  his  sentiments  had  been  approved,  and 
he  need  not  be  ashamed  of  the  honest  color  in  his 
cheeks,  Ed  sat  down  amid  the  applause  of  his  side, 
especially  of  Jack,  who  pounded  so  vigorously  with 
his  crutch  that  Mrs.  Pecq  popped  in  her  head  to  see  if 
anything  was  wanted. 

"  No,  thank  you,  ma'am,  we  were  only  cheering  Ed," 
said  Gus,  now  upon  his  legs,  and  rather  at  a  loss  what 
to  say  till  Mrs.  Pecq's  appearance  suggested  an  idea, 
and  he  seized  upon  it. 


110  JACK  AND  JILL 

"  My  honored  friend  has  spoken  so  well  that  I  have 
little  to  add.  I  agree  with  him,  and  if  you  want  an 
example  of  what  girls  can  do,  why,  look  at  Jill.  She  's 
young,  I  know,  but  a  first-rate  scholar  for  her  age. 
As  for  pluck,  she  is  as  brave  as  a  boy,  and  almost  as 
smart  at  running,  rowing,  and  so  on.  Of  course,  she 
can't  play  ball,  —  no  girl  can  ;  their  arms  are  not  made 
right  to  throw,  —  but  she  can  catch  remarkably  well. 
I  '11  say  that  for  her.  Now,  if  she  and  Mabel  —  and  — 
and  —  some  others  I  could  name,  are  so  clever  and 
strong  at  the  beginning,  I  don't  see  why  they  should  n't 
keep  up  and  go  along  with  us  all  through.  I  'm  willing, 
and  will  do  what  I  can  to  help  other  fellows'  sisters 
as  I  'd  like  to  have  them  help  mine.  And  I  '11  punch 
their  heads  if  they  don't;"  and  Gus subsided,  assured, 
by  a  burst  of  applause,  that  his  manly  way  of  stating 
the  case  met  with  general  approval. 

"  We  shall  be  happy  to  hear  from  our  senior  mem 
ber  if  he  will  honor  us  with  a  few  remarks,"  said 
Frank,  with  a  bow  to  Ralph. 

No  one  ever  knew  whom  he  would  choose  to  per 
sonate,  for  he  never  spoke  in  his  own  character.  Now 
he  rose  slowly,  put  one  hand  in  his  bosom,  and  fixing 
his  eye  sternly  on  Grif,  who  was  doing  something  sus 
picious  with  a  pin,  gave  them  a  touch  of  Sergeant 
Buzfuz,  from  the  Pickwick  trial,  thinking  that  the 
debate  was  not  likely  to  throw  much  light  on  the  sub 
ject  under  discussion.  In  the  midst  of  this  appeal  to 
"Me  lud  and  gentlemen  of  the  jury,"  he  suddenly 
paused,  smoothed  his  hair  down  upon  his  forehead, 
rolled  up  his  eyes,  and  folding  his  hands,  droned  out 
Mr.  Chadband's  sermon  on  Peace,  delivered  over  poor 
Jo,  and  ending  with  the  famous  lines  :  — 


THE  DEBATING   CLUB.  Ill 

"  Oh,  running  stream  of  sparkling  joy, 
To  be  a  glorious  human  boy  ! " 

Then,  setting  his  hair  erect  with  one  comprehensive 
sweep,  he  caught  up  his  coat-skirts  over  his  arm,  and, 
assuming  a  parliamentary  attitude,  burst  into  a  comical 
medley,  composed  of  extracts  from  Jefferson  Brick's 
and  Lafayette  Kettle's  speeches,  and  Elijah  Pogram's 
Defiance,  from  "  Martin  Ohuzzlewit."  Gazing  at  Gus, 
who  was  convulsed  with  suppressed  merriment,  he 
thundered  forth :  — 

"  In  the  name  of  our  common  country,  sir,  in  the 
name  of  that  righteous  cause  in  which  we  are  jined, 
and  in  the  name  of  the  star-spangled  banner,  I  thank 
you  for  your  eloquent  and  categorical  remarks.  You, 
sir,  are  a  model  of  a  man  fresh  from  Natur's  mould. 
A  true-born  child  of  this  free  hemisphere  ;  verdant  as 
the  mountains  of  our  land ;  bright  and  flowin'  as  our 
mineral  Licks ;  unspiled  by  fashion  as  air  our  bound 
less  perearers.  Rough  you  may  be  ;  so  air  our  Barrs. 
Wild  you  may  be ;  so  air  our  Buffalers.  But,  sir,  you 
air  a  Child  of  Freedom,  and  your  proud  answer  to 
the  Tyrant  is,  that  your  bright  home  is  in  the  Settin' 
Sun.  And,  sir,  if  any  man  denies  this  fact,  though  it 
be  the  British  Lion  himself,  I  defy  him.  Let  me  have 
him  here  !  "  —  smiting  the  table,  and  causing  the  ink 
stand  to  skip  —  "here,  upon  this  sacred  altar  !  Here, 
upon  the  ancestral  ashes  cemented  with  the  glorious 
blood  poured  out  like  water  on  the  plains  of  Chicka 
biddy  Lick.  Alone  I  dare  that  Lion,  and  tell  him  that 
Freedom's  hand  once  twisted  in  his  mane,  he  rolls  a 
corse  before  me,  and  the  Eagles  of  the  Great  Republic 
scream,  Ha,  ha  !  " 

By  this  time  the  boys  were  rolling  about  in  fits  of 


112  JACK  AND  JILL. 

laughter;  even  sober  Frank  was  red  and  breathless, 
and  Jack  lay  back,  feebly  squealing,  as  he  could  laugh 
no  more.  In  a  moment  Ralph  was  as  meek  as  a 
Quaker,  and  sat  looking  about  him  with  a  mildly 
astonished  air,  as  if  inquiring  the  cause  of  such  un 
seemly  mirth.  A  knock  at  the  door  produced  a  lull, 
and  in  came  a  maid  with  apples. 

"  Time  's  up  ;  fall  to  and  make  yourselves  comfort 
able,"  was  the  summary  way  in  which  the  club  was 
released  from  its  sterner  duties  and  permitted  to 
unbend  its  mighty  mind  for  a  social  half-hour,  chiefly 
devoted  to  whist,  with  an  Indian  war-dance  as  a  clos 
ing  ceremony. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  DRAMATIC  CLUB. 

WHILE  Jack  was  hopping  gayly  about  on  his 
crutches,  poor  Jill  was  feeling  the  effects  of 
her  second  fall,  and  instead  of  sitting  up,  as  she  hoped 
to  do  after  six  weeks  of  rest,  she  was  ordered  to  lie 
on  a  board  for  two  hours  each  day.  Not  an  easy  pen 
ance,  by  any  means,  for  the  board  was  very  hard,  and 
she  could  do  nothing  while  she  lay  there,  as  it  did  not 
slope  enough  to  permit  her  to  read  without  great 
fatigue  of  both  eyes  and  hands.  So  the  little  martyr 
spent  her  first  hour  of  trial  in  sobbing,  the  second  in 
singing,  for  just  as  her  mother  and  Mrs.  Minot  were 
deciding  in  despair  that  neither  she  nor  they  could 
bear  it,  Jill  suddenly  broke  out  into  a  merry  chorus 
she  used  to  hear  her  father  sing :  — 

"  Faut  jouer  le  mirliton, 
Faut  jouer  le  mirlitir, 
Faut  jouer  le  mirliter, 
Mir — li— ton." 

The  sound  of  the  brave  little  voice  was  very  com 
forting  to  the  two  mothers  hovering  about  her,  and 
Jack  said,  with  a  look  of  mingled  pity  and  admiration, 
as  he  brandished  his  crutch  over  the  imaginary  foes,  — 

"  That 's  right !  Sing  away,  and  we  '11  play  you 
8 


114  JACK  AND  JILL. 

are  an  Indian  captive  being  tormented  by  your 
enemies,  and  too  proud  to  complain.  I  '11  watch  the 
clock,  and  the  minute  time  is  up  I  '11  rush  in  and  rescue 
you." 

Jill  laughed,  but  the  fancy  pleased  her,  and  she 
straightened  herself  out  under  the  gay  afghan,  while 
she  sang,  in  a  plaintive  voice,  another  little  French 
song  her  father  taught  her  :  — 

"  J'avais  une  colombe  blanche, 
J'avais  un  blanc  petit  pigeon, 
Tous  deux  volaient,  de  branche  en  brancbe, 
Jusqu'  au  faite  de  mon  dongeon  : 
Mais  corame  un  coup  de  vent  d'automne, 
S'est  abattu  la,  1'epervier, 
Et  ma  colombe  si  mignonne 
Ne  revient  plus  au  colombier." 

"My  poor  Jean  had  a  fine  voice,  and  always  hoped 
the  child  would  take  after  him.  It  would  break  his 
heart  to  see  her  lying  there  trying  to  cheer  her  pain 
with  the  songs  he  used  to  sing  her  to  sleep  with,"  said 
Mrs.  Pecq,  sadly. 

"  She  really  has  a  great  deal  of  talent,  and  when  she 
is  able  she  shall  have  some  lessons,  for  music  is  a 
comfort  and  a  pleasure,  sick  or  well,"  answered  Mrs. 
Minot,  who  had  often  admired  the  fresh  voice,  with  its 
pretty  accent. 

Here  Jill  began  the  Canadian  boat-song,  with  great 
vigor,  as  if  bound  to  play  her  part  of  Indian  victim 
with  spirit,  and  not  disgrace  herself  by  any  more  cry 
ing.  All  knew  the  air,  and  joined  in,  especially  Jack, 
who  came  out  strong  on  the  "Row,  brothers,  row," 
but  ended  in  a  squeak  on  a  high  note,  so  drolly,  that 
the  rest  broke  down.  So  the  hour  that  began  with 


THE  DRAMATIC   CLUB.  110 

tears  ended  with  music  and  laughter,  and  a  new  pleas 
ure  to  think  of  for  the  future. 

After  that  day  Jill  exerted  all  her  fortitude,  for  she 
liked  to  have  the  boys  call  her  brave  and  admire  the 
cheerful  way  in  which  she  endured  two  hours  of  dis 
comfort.  She  found  she  could  use  her  zither  as  it  lay 
upon  her  breast,  and  every  day  the  pretty  music  began 
at  a  certain  hour,  and  all  in  the  house  soon  learned  to 
love  and  listen  for  it.  Even  the  old  cook  set  open  her 
kitchen  door,  saying  pitifully,  "  Poor  darlirit,  hear 
how  purty  she  's  sin  gin',  wid  the  pain,  on  that  crewel 
boord.  It 's  a  little  saint,  she  is.  May  her  bed  above 
be  aisy  ! " 

Frank  would  lift  her  gently  on  and  off,  with  a  kind 
word  that  comforted  her  immensely,  and  gentle  Ed 
would  come  and  teach  her  new  bits  of  music,  while 
the  other  fellows  were  frolicking  below.  Ralph  added 
his  share  to  her  amusement,  for  he  asked  leave  to 
model  her  head  in  clay,  and  set  up  his  work  in  a  cor 
ner,  coming  to  pat,  scrape,  and  mould  whenever  he  had 
a  spare  minute,  amusing  her  by  his  lively  chat,  and 
showing  her  how  to  shape  birds,  rabbits,  and  queer 
faces  in  the  soft  clay,  when  the  songs  were  all  sung 
and  her  fingers  tired  of  the  zither. 

The  girls  sympathized  very  heartily  with  her  new 
trial,  and  brought  all  manner  of  gifts  to  cheer  her 
captivity.  Merry  and  Molly  made  a  gay  screen  by 
pasting  pictures  on  the  black  cambric  which  covered 
the  folding  frame  that  stood  before  her  to  keep  the 
draughts  from  her  as  she  lay  on  her  board.  Bright 
birds  and  flowers,  figures  and  animals,  covered  one 
side,  and  on  the  other  they  put  mottoes,  bits  of  poetry, 
anecdotes,  and  short  stories,  so  that  Jill  could  lie  and 


116  JACK  AND  JILL. 

look  or  read  without  the  trouble  of  holding  a  book. 
It  was  not  all  done  at  once,  but  grew  slowly,  and  was 
a  source  of  instruction  as  well  as  amusement  to  them 
all,  as  they  read  carefully,  that  they  might  make  good 
selections. 

But  the  thing  that  pleased  Jill  most  was  something 
Jack  did,  for  he  gave  up  going  to  school,  and  stayed  at 
home  nearly  a  fortnight  after  he  might  have  gone,  all 
for  her  sake.  The  day  the  doctor  said  he  might  try  it 
if  he  would  be  very  careful,  he  was  in  great  spirits, 
and  limped  about,  looking  up  his  books,  and  planning 
how  he  would  astonish  his  mates  by  the  rapidity  of 
his  recovery.  When  he  sat  down  to  rest  he  remem 
bered  Jill,  who  had  been  lying  quietly  behind  the 
screen,  while  he  talked  with  his  mother,  busy  putting 
fresh  covers  on  the  books. 

"  She  is  so  still,  I  guess  she  is  asleep,"  thought  Jack, 
peeping  round  the  corner. 

No,  not  asleep,  but  lying  with  her  eyes  fixed  on  the 
sunny  window,  beyond  which  the  bright  winter  world 
sparkled  after  a  fresh  snow-fall.  The  jingle  of  sleigh- 
bells  could  be  heard,  the  laughter  of  boys  and  girls  on 
their  way  to  school,  all  the  pleasant  stir  of  a  new  day 
of  happy  work  and  play  for  the  rest  of  the  world, 
more  lonely,  quiet,  and  wearisome  than  ever  to  her 
since  her  friend  and  fellow-prisoner  was  set  free  and 
going  to  leave  her. 

Jack  understood  that  patient,  wistful  look,  and, 
without  a  word,  went  back  to  his  seat,  staring  at 
the  fire  so  soberly,  that  his  mother  presently  asked : 
"  What  are  you  thinking  of  so  busily,  with  that  pucker 
in  your  forehead  ?  " 

"I've  about  made  up  my  mind  that  I  won't  go  to 


THE  DRAMATIC   CLUB.  117 

school  just  yet,"  answered  Jack,  slowly  lifting  his 
head,  for  it  cost  him  something  to  give  up  the  long- 
expected  pleasure. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  and  Mrs.  Minot  looked  much  surprised, 
till  Jack  pointed  to  the  screen,  and,  making  a  sad 
face  to  express  Jill's  anguish,  answered  in  a  cheerful 
tone,  "  Well,  I  'm  not  sure  that  it  is  best.  Doctor  did 
not  want  me  to  go,  but  said  I  might  because  I  teased. 
I  shall  be  sure  to  come  to  grief,  and  then  every  one 
will  say,  '  I  told  you  so,'  and  that  is  so  provoking.  I  'd 
rather  keep  still  a  week  longer.  Had  n't  I  better  ?  " 

His  mother  smiled  and  nodded  as  she  said,  sewing 
away  at  much-abused  old  Caesar,  as  if  she  loved  him, 
"  Do  as  you  think  best,  dear.  I  always  want  you  at 
home,  but  I  don't  wonder  you  are  rather  tired  of  it 
after  this  long  confinement." 

"  I  say,  Jill,  should  I  be  in  your  way  if  I  didn't  go 
to  school  till  the  first  of  February?"  called  Jack, 
laughing  to  himself  at  the  absurdity  of  the  question. 

"  Not  much ! "  answered  a  glad  voice  from  behind 
the  screen,  and  he  knew  the  sorrowful  eyes  were  shin 
ing  with  delight,  though  he  could  not  see  them. 

"  Well,  I  guess  I  may  as  well,  and  get  quite  firm  on 
my  legs  before  I  start.  Another  week  or  so  will  bring 
me  up  if  I  study  hard,  so  I  shall  not  lose  my  time. 
I  '11  tackle  my  Latin  as  soon  as  it 's  ready,  mother." 

Jack  got  a  hearty  kiss  with  the  neatly  covered  book, 
and  Mamma  loved  him  for  the  little  sacrifice  more 
than  if  he  had  won  a  prize  at  school.  He  did  get  a  re 
ward,  for,  in  five  minutes  from  the  time  he  decided, 
Jill  was  singing  like  a  bobolink,  and  such  a  medley  of 
merry  music  came  from  behind  the  screen,  that  it  was 
a  regular  morning  concert.  She  did  not  know  then 


118  JACK  AND  JILL. 

that  he  stayed  for  her  sake,  but  she  found  it  out  soon 
after,  and  when  the  time  came  did  as  much  for  him, 
as  we  shall  see. 

It  proved  a  wise  decision,  for  the  last  part  of  Janu 
ary  was  so  stormy  Jack  could  not  have  gone  half  the 
time.  So,  while  the  snow  drifted,  and  bitter  winds 
raged,  he  sat  snugly  at  home  amusing  Jill,  and  getting 
on  bravely  with  his  lessons,  for  Frank  took  great  pains 
with  him  to  show  his  approbation  of  the  little  kindness, 
and,  somehow,  the  memory  of  it  seemed  to  make  even 
the  detested  Latin  easier. 

With  February  fair  weather  set  in,  and  Jack  marched 
happily  away  to  school,  with  Jill's  new  mittens  on  his 
hands,  Mamma  nodding  from  the  door-step,  and  Frank 
ready  to  give  him  a  lift  on  the  new  sled,  if  the  way 
proved  too  long  or  too  rough. 

"  I  shall  not  have  time  to  miss  him  now,  for  we  are 
to  be  very  busy  getting  ready  for  the  Twenty-second. 
The  Dramatic  Club  meets  to-night,  and  would  like  to 
come  here,  if  they  may,  so  I  can  help  ? "  said  Jill,  as 
Mrs.  Minot  came  up,  expecting  to  find  her  rather  low  in 
her  mind. 

"  Certainly ;  and  I  have  a  basket  of  old  finery  I 
looked  up  for  the  club  when  I  was  rummaging  out  bits 
of  silk  for  your  blue  quilt,"  answered  the  good  lady, 
who  had  set  up  a  new  employment  to  beguile  the  hours 
of  Jack's  absence. 

When  the  girls  arrived,  that  evening,  they  found 
Mrs.  Chairwoman  surrounded  by  a  strew  of  theat 
rical  properties,  enjoying  herself  very  much.  All 
brought  such  contributions  as  they  could  muster,  and 
all  were  eager  about  a  certain  tableau  which  was  to  be 
the  gem  of  the  whole,  they  thought.  Jill,  of  course, 


THE  DRAMATIC  CLUB.  119 

was  not  expected  to  take  any  part,  but  her  taste  was 
good,  so  all  consulted  her  as  they  showed  their  old 
silks,  laces,  and  flowers,  asking  who  should  be  this,  and 
who  that.  All  wanted  to  be  the  "  Sleeping  Beauty," 
for  that  was  the  chosen  scene,  with  the  slumbering 
court  about  the  princess,  and  the  prince  in  the  act  of 
awakening  her.  Jack  was  to  be  the  hero,  brave  in  his 
mother's  velvet  cape,  red  boots,  and  a  real  sword, 
while  the  other  boys  were  to  have  parts  of  more  or 
less  splendor. 

"Mabel  should  be  the  Beauty,  because  her  hair  is 
so  lovely,"  said  Juliet,  who  was  quite  satisfied  with  her 
own  part  of  the  Queen. 

"  No,  Merry  ought  to  have  it,  as  she  is  the  prettiest, 
and  has  that  splendid  veil  to  wear,"  answered  Molly, 
who  was  to  be  the  maid  of  honor,  cuffing  the  little 
page,  Boo. 

"  I  don't  care  a  bit,  but  my  feather  would  be  fine  for 
the  Princess,  and  I  don't  know  as  Emma  would  like 
to  have  me  lend  it  to  any  one  else,"  said  Annette,  wav 
ing  a  long  white  plume  over  her  head,  with  girlish 
delight  in  its  grace. 

"  I  should  think  the  white  silk  dress,  the  veil,  and 
the  feather  ought  to  go  together,  with  the  scarlet  crape 
shawl  and  these  pearls.  That  would  be  sweet,  and 
just  what  princesses  really  wear,"  advised  Jill,  who 
was  stringing  a  quantity  of  old  Roman  pearls. 

"  We  all  want  to  wear  the  nice  things,  so  let  us 
draw  lots.  Would  n't  that  be  the  fairest  way?"  asked 
Merry,  looking  like  a  rosy  little  bride,  under  a  great 
piece  of  illusion,  which  had  done  duty  in  many  plays. 

"  The  Prince  is  light,  so  the  Princess  must  be 
darkish.  We  ought  to  choose  the  girl  who  will  look 


120  JACK  AND  JILL. 

best,  as  it  is  a  picture.  I  heard  Miss  Delano  say  so, 
when  the  ladies  got  up  the  tableaux,  last  winter,  and 
every  one  wanted  to  be  Cleopatra,"  said  Jill  de 
cidedly. 

"You  choose,  and  then  if  we  can't  agree  we  will 
draw  lots,"  proposed  Susy,  who,  being  plain,  knew 
there  was  little  hope  of  her  getting  a  chance  in  any 
other  way. 

So  all  stood  in  a  row,  and  Jill,  from  her  sofa,  surveyed 
them  critically,  feeling  that  the  one  Jack  would  really 
prefer  was  not  among  the  number. 

"I  choose  that  one,  for  Juliet  wants  to  be  Queen, 
Molly  would  make  faces,  and  the  others  are  too  big  or 
too  light,"  pronounced  Jill,  pointing  to  Merry,  who 
looked  pleased,  while  Mabel's  face  darkened,  and  Susy 
gave  a  disdainful  sniff. 

"  You  'd  better  draw  lots,  and  then  there  will  be  no 
fuss.  Ju  and  I  are  out  of  the  fight,  but  you  three  can 
try,  and  let  this  settle  the  matter,"  said  Molly,  handing 
Jill  a  long  strip  of  paper. 

All  agreed  to  let  it  be  so,  and  when  the  bits  were 
ready  drew  in  turn.  This  time  fate  was  evidently  on 
Merry's  side,  and  no  one  grumbled  when  she  showed 
the  longest  paper. 

"  Go  and  dress,  then  come  back,  and  we  '11  plan  how 
we  are  to  be  placed  before  we  call  up  the  boys,"  com 
manded  Jill,  who  was  manager,  since  she  could  be 
nothing  else. 

The  girls  retired  to  the  bedroom  and  began  to  "  rig 
up,"  as  they  called  it ;  but  discontent  still  lurked  among 
them,  and  showed  itself  in  sharp  words,  envious  looks, 
and  disobliging  acts. 

"Am  I  to  have  the  white  silk  and  the  feather?" 


THE  DRAMATIC   CLUB.  121 

asked  Merry,  delighted  with  the  silvery  shimmer  of  the 
one  and  the  graceful  droop  of  the  other,  though  both 
were  rather  shabby. 

"  You  can  use  your  own  dress.  I  don't  see  why  you 
should  have  everything,"  answered  Susy,  who  was  at 
the  mirror,  putting  a  wreath  of  scarlet  flowers  on 
her  red  head,  bound  to  be  gay  since  she  could  not  be 
pretty. 

"  I  think  I  'd  better  keep  the  plume,  as  I  have  n't  any 
thing  else  that  is  nice,  and  I'm  afraid  Emma  would 
n't  like  me  to  lend  it,"  added  Annette,  who  was  disap 
pointed  that  Mabel  was  not  to  be  the  Beauty. 

"J  don't  intend  to  act  at  all!"  declared  Mabel,  be 
ginning  to  braid  up  her  hair  with  a  jerk,  out  of  humor 
with  the  whole  affair. 

"  /  think  you  are  a  set  of  cross,  selfish  girls  to  back 
out  and  keep  your  nice  things  just  because  you  can't 
all  have  the  best  part.  I  'm  ashamed  of  you ! "  scolded 
Molly,  standing  by  Merry,  who  was  sadly  surveying 
her  mother's  old  purple  silk,  which  looked  like  brown 
in  the  evening. 

"  I  'm  going  to  have  Miss  Delano's  red  brocade  for 
the  Queen,  and  I  shall  ask  her  for  the  yellow-satin 
dress  for  Merry  when  I  go  to  get  mine,  and  tell  her 
how  mean  you  are,"  said  Juliet,  frowning  under  her 
gilt-paper  crown  as  she  swept  about  in  a  red  table 
cloth  for  train  till  the  brocade  arrived. 

"  Perhaps  you'd  like  to  have  Mabel  cut  her  hair  off, 
so  Merry  can  have  that,  too?  "  cried  Susy,  with  whom 
hair  was  a  tender  point. 

"  Light  hair  is  n't  wanted,  so  Ju  will  have  to  give 
hers,  or  you  'd  better  borrow  Miss  Bat's  frisette,"  added 
Mabel,  with  a  scornful  laugh. 


122  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  I  just  wish  Miss  Bat  was  here  to  give  you  girls  a 
good  shaking.  Do  let  some  one  else  have  a  chance  at 
the  glass,  you  peacock ! "  exclaimed  Molly  Loo,  push 
ing  Susy  aside  to  arrange  her  own  blue  turban,  out  of 
which  she  plucked  the  pink  pompon  to  give  Merry. 

"  Don't  quarrel  about  me.  I  shall  do  well  enough, 
and  the  scarlet  shawl  will  hide  my  ugly  dress,"  said 
Merry,  from  the  corner,  where  she  sat  waiting  for  her 
turn  at  the  mirror. 

As  she  spoke  of  the  shawl  her  eye  went  in  search  of 
it,  and  something  that  she  saw  in  the  other  room  put 
her  own  disappointment  out  of  her  head.  Jill  lay 
there  all  alone,  rather  tired  with  the  lively  chatter,  and 
the  effort  it  cost  her  not  to  repine  at  being  shut  out 
from  the  great  delight  of  dressing  up  and  acting.  Her 
eyes  were  closed,  her  net  was  off,  and  all  the  pretty 
black  curls  lay  about  her  shoulders  as  one  hand  idly 
pulled  them  out,  while  the  other  rested  on  the  red 
shawl,  as  if  she  loved  its  glowing  color  and  soft  text 
ure.  She  was  humming  to  herself  the  little  song  of 
the  dove  and  the  donjon,  and  something  in  the  plain 
tive  voice,  the  solitary  figure,  went  straight  to  Merry's 
gentle  heart. 

"  Poor  Jilly  can't  have  any  of  the  fun,"  was  the  first 
thought ;  then  came  a  second,  that  made  Merry  start 
and  smile,  and  in  a  minute  whisper  so  that  all  but  Jill 
could  hear  her,  "Girls,  I  'm  not  going  to  be  the 
Princess.  But  I  've  thought  of  a  splendid  one  !  " 

"  Who  ? "  asked  the  rest,  staring  at  one  another, 
much  surprised  by  this  sudden  announcement. 

"  Hush  !  Speak  low,  or  you  will  spoil  it  all.  Look 
in  the  Bird  Room,  and  tell  me  if  that  is  n't  a  prettier 
Princess  than  I  could  make  ?  " 


THE  DRAMATIC  CLUB.  123 

They  all  looked,  but  no  one  spoke,  and  Merry  added, 
with  sweet  eagerness,  "  It  is  the  only  thing  poor  Jill 
can  be,  and  it  would  make  her  so  happy  ;  Jack  would 
like  it,  and  it  would  please  every  one,  I  know.  Per 
il  aps  she  will  never  walk  again,  so  we  ought  to  be  very 
good  to  her,  poor  dear." 

The  last  words,  whispered  with  a  little  quiver  in  the 
voice,  settled  the  matter  better  than  hours  of  talking, 
for  girls  are  tender-hearted  creatures,  and  not  one  of 
these  but  would  have  gladly  given  all  the  pretty  things 
she  owned  to  see  Jill  dancing  about  well  and  strong 
again.  Like  a  ray  of  sunshine  the  kind  thought 
touched  and  brightened  every  face ;  envy,  impatience, 
vanity,  and  discontent  flew  away  like  imps  at  the  coming 
of  the  good  fairy,  and  with  one  accord  they  all  cried,  — 

"  It  will  be  lovely  ;  let  us  go  and  tell  her  !  " 

Forgetting  their  own  adornment,  out  they  trooped 
after  Merry,  who  ran  to  the  sofa,  saying,  with  a  smile 
which  was  reflected  in  all  the  other  faces,  "  Jill,  dear, 
we  have  chosen  another  Princess,  and  I  know  you  '11 
like  her." 

"  Who  is  it  ?  "  asked  Jill,  languidly,  opening  her 
eyes  without  the  least  suspicion  of  the  truth. 

"I'll  show  you;"  and  taking  the  cherished  veil 
from  her  own  head,  Merry  dropped  it  like  a  soft  cloud 
over  Jill ;  Annette  added  the  long  plume,  Susy  laid 
the  white  silk  dress  about  her,  while  Juliet  and  Mabel 
lifted  the  scarlet  shawl  to  spread  it  over  the  foot  of 
the  sofa,  and  Molly  tore  the  last  ornament  from  her 
turban,  a  silver  star,  to  shine  on  Jill's  breast.  Then 
they  all  took  hands  and  danced  round  the  couch,  sing 
ing,  as  they  laughed  at  her  astonishment,  "  There  she 
is !  There  she  is  !  Princess  Jill  as  fine  as  you  please!" 


124  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"Do  you  really  mean  it?  But  can  I?  Is  it  fair? 
How  sweet  of  you  !  Come  here  and  let  me  hug  you 
all ! "  cried  Jill,  in  a  rapture  at  the  surprise,  and  the 
pretty  way  in  which  it  was  done. 

The  grand  scene  on  the  Twenty-second  was  very 
fine,  indeed  ;  but  the  little  tableau  of  that  minute  was 
infinitely  better,  though  no  one  saw  it,  as  Jill  tried  to 
gather  them  all  in  her  arms,  for  that  nosegay  of  girl 
ish  faces  was  the  sweeter,  because  each  one  had  sac 
rificed  her  own  little  vanity  to  please  a  friend,  and  her 
joy  was  reflected  in  the  eyes  that  sparkled  round  the 
happy  Princess. 

"  Oh,  you  dear,  kind  things,  to  think  of  me  and  give 
me  all  your  best  clothes  !  I  never  shall  forget  it,  and 
I  '11  do  anything  for  you.  Yes !  I  '11  write  and  ask 
Mrs.  Piper  to  lend  us  her  ermine  cloak  for  the  king. 
See  if  I  don't !  " 

Shrieks  of  delight  hailed  this  noble  offer,  for  no  one 
had  dared  to  borrow  the  much-coveted  mantle,  but  all 
agreed  that  the  old  lady  would  not  refuse  Jill.  It 
was  astonishing  how  smoothly  everything  went  after 
this,  for  each  was  eager  to  help,  admire,  and  suggest, 
in  the  friendliest  way  ;  and  when  all  were  dressed,  the 
boys  found  a  party  of  very  gay  ladies  waiting  for  them 
round  the  couch,  where  lay  the  brightest  little  Prin 
cess  ever  seen. 

"  Oh,  Jack,  I  'm  to  act !  Was  n't  it  dear  of  the  girls 
to  choose  me  ?  Don't  they  look  lovely  ?  Are  n't  you 
glad?"  cried  Jill,  as  the  lads  stared  and  the  lasses 
blushed  and  smiled,  well  pleased  at  the  frank  admira 
tion  the  boyish  faces  showed. 

"  I  guess  I  am  !  You  are  a  set  of  trumps,  and  we  '11 
give  you  a  first-class  spread  after  the  play  to  pay  for  it. 


THE  DRAMATIC   CLUB.  125 

Won't  we,  fellows  ?  "  answered  Jack,  much  gratified, 
and  feeling  that  now  he  could  act  his  own  part  cap 
itally. 

"  We  will.  It  was  a  handsome  thing  to  do,  and  we 
think  well  of  you  for  it.  Hey,  Gus  ? "  and  Frank 
nodded  approvingly  at  all,  though  he  looked  only  at 
Annette. 

"As  king  of  this  crowd,  I  call  it  to  order,"  said 
Gus,  retiring  to  the  throne,  where  Juliet  sat  laughing 
in  her  red  table-cloth. 

"  We  '11  have  « The  Fair  One  with  Golden  Locks ' 
next  time;  I  promise  you  that,"  whispered  Ed  to 
Mabel,  whose  shining  hair  streamed  over  her  blue  dress 
like  a  mantle  of  gold-colored  silk. 

"Girls  are  pretty  nice  things,  are  n't  they?  Kind  of 
'em  to  take  Jill  in.  Don't  Molly  look  fine,  though  ?  " 
and  Grif's  black  eyes  twinkled  as  he  planned  to  pin  her 
skirts  to  Merry's  at  the  first  opportunity. 

"  Susy  looks  as  gay  as  a  feather-duster.  I  like  her. 
She  never  snubs  a  fellow,"  said  Joe,  much  impressed 
with  the  splendor  of  the  court  ladies. 

The  boys'  costumes  were  not  yet  ready,  but  they 
posed  well,  and  all  had  a  merry  time,  ending  with  a 
game  of  blind-man's-buff,  in  which  every  one  caught 
the  right  person  in  the  most  singular  way,  and  all 
agreed  as  they  went  home  in  the  moonlight  that  it  had 
been  an  unusually  jolly  meeting. 

So  the  fairy  play  woke  the  sleeping  beauty  that  lies 
in  all  of  us,  and  makes  us  lovely  when  we  rouse  it 
with  a  kiss  of  unselfish  good-will,  for,  though  the  girls 
did  not  know  it  then,  they  had  adorned  themselves 
with  pearls  more  precious  than  the  waxen  ones  they 
decked  their  Princess  in. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

"DOWN    BRAKES." 

THE  greatest  people  have  their  weak  points,  and 
the  best-behaved  boys  now  and  then  yield  to 
temptation  and  get  into  trouble,  as  everybody  knows. 
Frank  was  considered  a  remarkably  well-bred  and 
proper  lad,  and  rather  prided  himself  on  his  good 
reputation,  for  he  never  got  into  scrapes  like  the 
other  fellows.  Well,  hardly  ever,  for  we  must  con 
fess  that  at  rare  intervals  his  besetting  sin  overcame 
his  prudence,  and  he  proved  himself  an  erring,  human 
boy.  Steam-engines  had  been  his  idols  for  years,  and 
they  alone  could  lure  him  from  the  path  of  virtue. 
Once,  in  trying  to  investigate  the  mechanism  of  a  toy 
specimen,  which  had  its  little  boiler  and  ran  about 
whistling  and  puffing  in  the  most  delightful  way,  he 
nearly  set  the  house  afire  by  the  sparks  that  dropped 
on  the  straw  carpet.  Another  time,  in  trying  experi 
ments  with  the  kitchen  tea-kettle,  he  blew  himself  up, 
and  the  scars  of  that  explosion  he  still  carried  on  his 
hands. 

He  was  long  past  such  childish  amusements  now, 
but  his  favorite  haunt  was  the  engine-house  of  the 
new  railroad,  where  he  observed  the  habits  of  his  pets 
with  never-failing  interest,  and  cultivated  the  good- 


"DOWN  BRAKES."  12? 

will  of  stokers  and  brakemen  till  they  allowed  him 
many  liberties,  and  were  rather  flattered  by  the  admi 
ration  expressed  for  their  iron  horses  by  a  young  gen- 
tie  man  who  liked  them  better  even  than  his  Greek  and 
Latin. 

There  was  not  much  business  doing  on  this  road  as 
yet,  and  the  two  cars  of  the  passenger-trains  were 
often  nearly  empty,  though  full  freight-trains  rolled 
from  the  factory  to  the  main  road,  of  which  this  was 
only  a  branch.  So  things  went  on  in  a  leisurely  man 
ner,  which  gave  Frank  many  opportunities  of  pursu 
ing  his  favorite  pastime.  He  soon  knew  all  about  No. 
11,  his  pet  engine,  and  had  several  rides  on  it  with  Bill, 
the  engineer,  so  that  he  ielt  at  home  there,  and  pri 
vately  resolved  that  when  he  was  a  rich  man  he  would 
have  a  road  of  his  own,  and  run  trains  as  often  as  he 
liked. 

Gus  took  less  interest  than  his  friend  in  the  study 
of  steam,  but  usually  accompanied  him  when  he  went 
over  after  school  to  disport  himself  in  the  engine- 
house,  interview  the  stoker,  or  see  if  there  was  any 
thing  new  in  the  way  of  brakes. 

One  afternoon  they  found  No.  11  on  the  side-track, 
puffing  away  as  if  enjoying  a  quiet  smoke  before  start 
ing.  No  cars  were  attached,  and  no  driver  was  to  be 
seen,  for  Bill  was  off  with  the  other  men  behind  the 
station-house,  helping  the  expressman,  whose  horse 
had  backed  down  a  bank  and  upset  the  wagon. 

"  Good  chance  for  a  look  at  the  old  lady,"  said 
Frank,  speaking  of  the  engine  as  Bill  did,  and  jump 
ing  aboard  with  grent  satisfaction,  followed  by  Gus. 

"  I  'd  give  ten  dollars  if  I  could  run  her  up  to  the 
bend  and  back,"  he  added,  fondly  touching  the  bright 


128  JACK  AND  JILL. 

brass  knobs  and  glancing  at  the  fire  with  a  critical 
eye. 

"  You  could  n't  do  it  alone,"  answered  Gus,  sitting 
down  on  the  grimy  little  perch,  willing  to  indulge  his 
mate's  amiable  weakness. 

"  Give  me  leave  to  try  ?  Steam  is  up,  and  I  could 
do  it  as  easy  as  not ; "  and  Frank  put  his  hand  on  the 
throttle-valve,  as  if  daring  Gus  to  give  the  word. 

"  Fire  up  and  make  her  hum  ! "  laughed  Gus,  quot 
ing  Bill's  frequent  order  to  his  mate,  but  with  no  idea 
of  being  obeyed. 

"All  right;  I  '11  just  roll  her  up  to  the  switch  and 
back  again,  I  've  often  done  it  with  Bill ; "  and  Frank 
cautiously  opened  the  throttle-valve,  threw  back  the 
lever,  and  the  great  thing  moved  with  a  throb  and  a 
puff. 

"  Steady,  old  fellow,  or  you  '11  come  to  grief.  Here, 
don't  open  that!"  shouted  Gus,  for  just  at  that  mo 
ment  Joe  appeared  at  the  switch,  looking  ready  for 
mischief. 

"  Wish  he  would ;  no  train  for  twenty  minutes,  and 
we  could  run  up  to  the  bend  as  well  as  not,"  said 
Frank,  getting  excited  with  the  sense  of  power,  as 
the  monster  obeyed  his  hand  so  entirely  that  it  was 
impossible  to  resist  prolonging  the  delight. 

"By  George,  he  has  !  Stop  her!  Back  her!  Hold 
on,  Frank ! "  cried  Gus,  as  Joe,  only  catching  the 
words  "  Open  that ! "  obeyed,  without  the  least  idea 
that  they  would  dare  to  leave  the  siding. 

But  they  did,  for  Frank  rather  lost  his  head  for  a 
minute,  and  out  upon  the  main  track  rolled  No.  11  as 
quietly  as  a  well-trained  horse  taking  a  familiar  road. 

"Now   you  've   done   it!      I'll   give   you   a   good 


"DOWN  BRAKES."  129 

thrashing  when  I  get  back ! "  roared  Gus,  shaking 
his  fist  at  Joe,  who  stood  staring,  half-pleased,  half- 
scared,  at  what  he  had  done. 

"Are  you  really  going  to  try  it?"  asked  Gus,  as 
they  glided  on  with  increasing  speed,  and  he,  too,  felt 
the  charm  of  such  a  novel  adventure,  though  the  con 
sequences  bid  fair  to  be  serious. 

"  Yes,  I  am,"  answered  Frank,  with  the  grim  look 
he  always  wore  when  his  strong  will  got  the  upper 
hand.  "  Bill  will  give  it  to  us,  any  way,  so  we  may 
as  well  have  our  fun  out.  If  you  are  afraid,  I  '11  slow 
down  and  you  can  jump  off,"  and  his  brown  eyes 
sparkled  with  the  double  delight  of  getting  his  heart's 
desire  and  astonishing  his  friend  at  the  same  time  by 
his  skill  and  coolness. 

"Go  ahead.  I'll  jump  when  you  do;"  and  Gus 
calmly  sat  down  again,  bound  in  honor  to  stand  by 
his  mate  till  the  smash  came,  though  rather  dismayed 
at  the  audacity  of  the  prank. 

"Don't  you  call  this  just  splendid?"  exclaimed 
Frank,  as  they  rolled  along  over  the  crossing,  past 
the  bridge,  toward  the  curve,  a  mile  from  the  station. 

"Not  bad.  They  are  yelling  like  mad  after  us. 
Better  go  back,  if  you  can,"  said  Gus,  who  was  anx 
iously  peering  out,  and,  in  spite  of  his  efforts  to  seem 
at  ease,  not  enjoying  the  trip  a  particle. 

"  Let  them  yell.  I  started  to  go  to  the  curve,  and 
I  '11  do  it  if  it  costs  me  a  hundred  dollars.  No  danger ; 
there 's  no  train  under  twenty  minutes,  I  tell  you," 
and  Frank  pulled  out  his  watch.  But  the  sun  was  in 
his  eyes,  and  he  did  not  see  clearly,  or  he  would  have 
discovered  that  it  was  later  than  he  thought. 

On  they  went,  and  were  just  rounding  the  bend 


130  JACK  AND  JILL. 

when  a  shrill  whistle  in  front  startled  both  boys,  and 
drove  the  color  out  of  their  cheeks. 

"  It 's  the  factory  train  !  "  cried  Gus,  in  a  husky  tone, 
as  he  sprang  to  his  feet. 

"  No  ;  it 's  the  five-forty  on  the  other  road,"  an 
swered  Frank,  with  a  queer  thrill  all  through  him  at 
the  thought  of  what  might  happen  if  it  was  not.  Both 
looked  straight  ahead  as  the  last  tree  glided  by,  and 
the  long  track  lay  before  them,  with  the  freight  train 
slowly  coming  down.  For  an  instant,  the  boys  stood 
as  if  paralyzed. 

"  Jump  ! "  said  Gus,  looking  at  the  steep  bank  on 
one  side  and  the  river  on  the  other,  undecided  which 
to  try. 

"  Sit  still !  "  commanded  Frank,  collecting  his  wits, 
as  he  gave  a  warning  whistle  to  retard  the  on-coming 
train,  while  he  reversed  the  engine  and  went  back 
faster  than  he  came. 

A  crowd  of  angry  men  was  waiting  for  them,  and 
Bill  stood  at  the  open  switch  in  a  towering  passion  as 
No.  11  returned  to  her  place  unharmed,  but  bearing 
two  pale  and  frightened  boys,  who  stepped  slowly  and 
silently  down,  without  a  word  to  say  for  themselves, 
while  the  freight  train  rumbled  by  on  the  main 
track. 

Frank  and  Gus  never  had  a  very  clear  idea  as  to 
what  occurred  during  the  next  few  minutes,  but 
vaguely  remembered  being  well  shaken,  sworn  at, 
questioned,  threatened  with  direful  penalties,  and 
finally  ordered  off  the  premises  forever  by  the  wrath 
ful  depot-master.  Joe  was  nowhere  to  be  seen,  and 
as  the  two  culprits  walked  away,  trying  to  go  steadily, 
while  their  heads  spun  round,  and  all  the  strength 


"DOWN  BRAKES."  131 

seemed  to  have  departed  from  their  legs,  Frank  said, 
in  an  exhausted  tone,  — 

"  Come  down  to  the  boat-house  and  rest  a  minute." 

Both  were  glad  to  get  out  of  sight,  and  dropped 
upon  the  steps  red,  rumpled,  and  breathless,  after  the 
late  exciting  scene.  Gus  generously  forebore  to  speak, 
though  he  felt  that  he  was  the  least  to  blame  ;  and 
Frank,  after  eating  a  bit  of  snow  to  moisten  his  dry 
lips,  said,  handsomely,  — 

"Now,  don't  you  worry,  old  man.  I'll  pay  the 
damages,  for  it  was  my  fault.  Joe  will  dodge,  but  I 
won't,  so  make  your  mind  easy." 

"  We  sha'  n't  hear  the  last  of  this  in  a  hurry,"  re 
sponded  Gus,  relieved,  yet  anxious,  as  he  thought  of 
the  reprimand  his  father  would  give  him. 

"  I  hope  mother  won't  hear  of  it  till  I  tell  her  quietly 
myself.  She  will  be  so  frightened,  and  think  I  'm 
surely  smashed  up,  if  she  is  told  in  a  hurry;"  and 
Frank  gave  a  shiver,  as  all  the  danger  he  had  run 
came  over  him  suddenly. 

"I  thought  we  were  done  for  when  we  saw  that 
train.  Guess  we  should  have  been  if  you  had  not  had 
your  wits  about  you.  I  always  said  you  were  a  cool 
one  ; "  and  Gus  patted  Frank's  back  with  a  look  of  great 
admiration,  for,  now  that  it  was  all  over,  he  considered 
it  a  very  remarkable  performance. 

"  Which  do  you  suppose  it  will  be,  fine  or  imprison 
ment?"  asked  Frank,  after  sitting  in  a  despondent 
attitude  for  a  moment. 

"  Should  n't  wonder  if  it  was  both.  Running  off 
with  an  engine  is  no  joke,  you  know." 

"  What  did  possess  me  to  be  such  a  fool  ?"  groaned 
Frank,  repenting,  all  too  late,  of  yielding  to  the  temp 
tation  which  assailed  him. 


132  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  Bear  up,  old  fellow,  I  '11  stand  by  yon ;  and  if  the 
worst  comes,  I  '11  call  as  often  as  the  rules  of  the  prison 
allow,"  said  Gus,  consolingly,  as  he  gave  his  afflicted 
friend  an  arm,  and  they  walked  away,  both  feeling 
that  they  were  marked  men  from  that  day  forth. 

Meantime,  Joe,  as  soon  as  he  recovered  from  the 
shock  of  seeing  the  boys  actually  go  off,  ran  away,  as 
fast  as  his  legs  could  carry  him,  to  prepare  Mrs.  Minot 
for  the  loss  of  her  son  ;  for  the  idea  of  their  coming 
safely  back  never  occurred  to  him,  his  knowledge  of 
engines  being  limited.  A  loud  ring  at  the  bell  brought 
Mrs.  Pecq,  who  was  guarding  the  house,  while  Mrs. 
Minot  entertained  a  parlor  full  of  company. 

"P>ank's  run  off  with  No.  11,  and  he'll  be  killed 
sure.  Thought  I  'd  come  up  and  tell  you,"  stammered 
Joe,  all  out  of  breath  and  looking  wild. 

He  got  no  further,  for  Mrs.  Pecq  clapped  one  hand 
over  his  mouth,  caught  him  by  the  collar  with  the 
other,  and  hustled  him  into  the  ante-room  before  any 
one  else  could  hear  the  bad  news. 

"  Tell  me  all  about  it,  and  don't  shout.  What 's 
come  to  the  boy  ? "  she  demanded,  in  a  tone  that  re 
duced  Joe  to  a  whisper  at  once. 

"  Go  right  back  and  see  what  has  happened  to  him, 
then  come  and  tell  me  quietly.  I  '11  wait  for  you  here. 
I  would  n't  have  his  mother  startled  for  the  world," 
said  the  good  soul,  when  she  knew  all. 

"Oh,  I  dar'sn't!  I  opened  the  switch  as  they  told 
me  to,  and  Bill  will  half  kill  me  when  he  knows  it!" 
cried  Joe,  in  a  panic,  as  the  awful  consequences  of  his 
deed  rose  before  him,  showing  both  boys  mortally  in 
jured  and  several  trains  wrecked. 

"  Then  take  yourself  off  home  and  hold  your  tongue. 


"DOWN  BRAKES."  133 

I  '11  watch  the  door,  for  I  won't  have  any  more  ridicu 
lous  boys  tearing  in  to  disturb  my  lady." 

Mrs.  Pecq  often  called  this  good  neighbor  "my 
lady  "  when  speaking  of  her,  for  Mrs.  Minot  was  a  true 
gentlewoman,  and  much  pleasanter  to  live  with  than 
the  titled  mistress  had  been. 

Joe  scudded  away  as  if  the  constable  was  after  him, 
and  presently  Frank  was  seen  slowly  approaching 
with  an  unusually  sober  face  and  a  pair  of  very  dirty 
hands. 

"Thank  heaven,  he's  safe!"  and,  softly  opening 
the  door,  Mrs.  Pecq  actually  hustled  the  young  master 
into  the  ante-room  as  unceremoniously  as  she  had 
hustled  Joe. 

"I  beg  pardon,  but  the  parlor  is  full  of  company, 
and  that  fool  of  a  Joe  came  roaring  in  with  a  cock- 
and-bull  story  that  gave  me  quite  a  turn.  What  is 
it,  Mr.  Frank?"  she  asked  eagerly,  seeing  that  some 
thing  was  amiss. 

He  told  her  in  a  few  words,  and  she  was  much  re 
lieved  to  find  that  no  harm  had  been  done. 

"  Ah,  the  danger  is  to  come,"  said  Frank,  darkly,  as 
he  went  away  to  wash  his  hands  and  prepare  to  relate 
his  misdeeds. 

It  was  a  very  bad  quarter  of  an  hour  for  the  poor 
fellow,  who  so  seldom  had  any  grave  faults  to  con 
fess  ;  but  he  did  it  manfully,  and  his  mother  was  so 
grateful  for  the  safety  of  her  boy  that  she  found  it 
difficult  to  be  severe  enough,  and  contented  herself 
with  forbidding  any  more  visits  to  the  too  charming 
No.  11. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  will  be  done  to  me  ?"  asked 
Frank,  on  whom  the  idea  of  imprisonment  had  made 
a  deep  impression. 


134  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  I  don't  know,  dear,  but  I  shall  go  over  to  see  Mr. 
Burton  right  after  tea.  He  will  tell  us  what  to  do  and 
what  to  expect.  Gus  must  not  suffer  for  your  fault." 

"  He  '11  come  off  clear  enough,  but  Joe  must  take 
his  share,  for  if  he  had  n't  opened  that  confounded 
switch,  no  harm  would  have  been  done.  But  when  I 
saw  the  way  clear,  I  actually  could  n't  resist  going 
ahead,"  said  Frank,  getting  excited  again  at  the  mem 
ory  of  that  blissful  moment  when  he  started  the  en 
gine. 

Here  Jack  came  hurrying  in,  having  heard  the  news, 
and  refused  to  believe  it  from  any  lips  but  Frank's. 
When  he  could  no  longer  doubt,  he  was  so  much  im 
pressed  with  the  daring  of  the  deed  that  he  had  noth 
ing  but  admiration  for  his  brother,  till  a  sudden 
thought  made  him  clap  his  hands  and  exclaim  exult- 
ingly,— 

"  His  runaway  beats  mine  all  hollow,  and  now  he 
can't  crow  over  me  !  Won't  that  be  a  comfort  ?  The 
good  boy  has  got  into  a  scrape.  Hooray  !  " 

This  was  such  a  droll  way  of  taking  it,  that  they  had 
to  laugh  ;  and  Frank  took  his  humiliation  so  meekly 
that  Jack  soon  fell  to  comforting  him,  instead  of  crow 
ing  over  him. 

Jill  thought  it  a  most  interesting  event ;  and,  when 
Frank  and  his  mother  went  over  to  consult  Mr.  Bur 
ton,  she  and  Jack  planned  out  for  the  dear  culprit  a 
dramatic  trial  which  would  have  convulsed  the  sober 
est  of  judges.  His  sentence  was  ten  years'  imprison 
ment,  and  such  heavy  fines  that  the  family  would  have 
been  reduced  to  beggary  but  for  the  sums  made  by 
Jill's  fancy  work  and  Jack's  success  as  a  champion 
pedestrian. 


"DOWN  BRAKES."  135 

They  found  such  comfort  and  amusement  in  this 
sensational  programme  that  they  were  rather  disap 
pointed  when  Frank  returned,  reporting  that  a  fine 
would  probably  be  all  the  penalty  exacted,  as  no  harm 
had  been  done,  and  he  and  Gus  were  such  respectable 
boys.  What  would  happen  to  Joe,  he  could  not  tell, 
but  he  thought  a  good  whipping  ought  to  be  added  to 
his  share. 

Of  course,  the  affair  made  a  stir  in  the  little  world 
of  children  ;  and  when  Frank  went  to  school,  feeling 
that  his  character  for  good  behavior  was  forever  dam 
aged,  he  found  himself  a  lion,  and  was  in  danger  of 
being  spoiled  by  the  admiration  of  his  comrades,  who 
pointed  him  out  with  pride  as  "  the  fellow  who  ran  off 
with  a  steam-engine." 

But  an  interview  with  Judge  Kemble,  a  fine  of 
twenty-five  dollars,  and  lectures  from  all  the  grown 
people  of  his  acquaintance,  prevented  him  from  re 
garding  his  escapade  as  a  feat  to  boast  of.  He  discov 
ered,  also,  how  fickle  a  thing  is  public  favor,  for  very 
soon  those  who  had  praised  began  to  tease,  and  it 
took  all  his  courage,  patience,  and  pride  to  carry  him 
through  the  next  week  or  two.  The  lads  were  never 
tired  of  alluding  to  No.  11,  giving  shrill  whistles  in  his 
ear,  asking  if  his  watch  was  right,  and  drawing  loco 
motives  on  the  blackboard  whenever  they  got  a 
chance. 

The  girls,  too,  had  sly  nods  and  smiles,  hints  and 
jokes  of  a  milder  sort,  which  made  him  color  and 
fume,  and  once  lose  his  dignity  entirely.  Molly  Loo, 
who  dearly  loved  to  torment  the  big  boys,  and  dared 
attack  even  solemn  Frank,  left  one  of  Boo's  old  tin 
trains  on  the  door-step,  directed  to  "Conductor  Mi- 


136  JACK  AND  JILL. 

not,"  who,  I  regret  to  say,  could  not  refrain  from 
kicking  it  into  the  street,  and  slamming  the  door  with 
a  bang  that  shook  the  house.  Shrieks  of  laughter 
from  wicked  Molly  and  her  coadjutor,  Grif,  greeted 
this  explosion  of  wrath,  which  did  no  good,  however, 
for  half  an  hour  later  the  same  cars,  all  in  a  heap,  were 
on  the  steps  again,  with  two  headless  dolls  tumbling 
out  of  the  cab,  and  the  dilapidated  engine  labelled, 
"No.  11  after  the  collision." 

No  one  ever  saw  that  ruin  again,  and  for  days 
Frank  was  utterly  unconscious  of  Molly's  existence, 
as  propriety  forbade  his  having  it  out  with  her  as  he 
had  with  Grif.  Then  Annette  made  peace  between 
them,  and  the  approach  of  the  Twenty-second  gave 
the  wags  something  else  to  think  of. 

But  it  was  long  before  Frank  forgot  that  costly 
prank ;  for  he  was  a  thoughtful  boy,  who  honestly 
wanted  to  be  good ;  so  he  remembered  this  episode 
humbly,  and  whenever  he  felt  the  approach  of  temp 
tation  he  made  the  strong  will  master  it,  saying  to 
himself  "  Down  brakes ! "  thus  saving  the  precious 
freight  he  carried  from  many  of  the  accidents  which 
befall  us  when  we  try  to  run  our  trains  without 
orders,  and  so  often  wreck  ourselves  as  well  as  others. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE    TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY. 

OF  course,  the  young  ladies  and  gentlemen  had  a 
ball  on  the  evening  of  that  day,  but  the  boys  and 
girls  were  full  of  excitement  about  their  "  Scenes 
from  the  Life  of  Washington  and  other  brilliant  tab 
leaux,"  as  the  programme  announced.  The  Bird 
Room  was  the  theatre,  being  very  large,  with  four 
doors  conveniently  placed.  Ralph  was  in  his  ele 
ment,  putting  up  a  little  stage,  drilling  boys,  arranging 
groups,  and  uniting  in  himself  carpenter,  scene-painter, 
manager,  and  gas  man.  Mrs.  Minot  permitted  the 
house  to  be  turned  topsy-turvy,  and  Mrs.  Pecq  flew 
about,  lending  a  hand  everywhere.  Jill  was  costumer, 
with  help  from  Miss  Delano,  who  did  not  care  for 
balls,  and  kindly  took  charge  of  the  girls.  Jack 
printed  tickets,  programmes,  and  placards  of  the  most 
imposing  sort,  and  the  work  went  gayly  on  till  all  was 
ready. 

When  the  evening  came,  the  Bird  Room  presented 
a  fine  appearance.  One  end  was  curtained  off  with 
red  drapery ;  and  real  footlights,  with  tin  shades,  gave 
a  truly  theatrical  air  to  the  little  stage.  Rows  of 
chairs,  filled  with  mammas  and  little  people,  occupied 
the  rest  of  the  space.  The  hall  and  Frank's  room 


138  JACK  AND  JILL. 

were  full  of  amused  papas,  uncles,  and  old  gentlemen 
whose  patriotism  brought  them  out  in  spite  of  rheu 
matism.  There  was  a  great  rustling  of  skirts,  flutter 
ing  of  fans,  and  much  lively  chat,  till  a  bell  rang  and 
the  orchestra  struck  up. 

Yes,  there  really  was  an  orchestra,  for  Ed  declared 
that  the  national  airs  must  be  played,  or  the  whole 
thing  would  be  a  failure.  So  he  had  exerted  himself 
to  collect  all  the  musical  talent  he  could  find,  a  horn, 
a  fiddle,  and  a  flute,  with  drum  and  fife  for  the  martial 
scenes.  Ed  looked  more  beaming  than  ever,  as  he 
waved  his  baton  and  led  off  with  Yankee  Doodle  as  a 
safe  beginning,  for  every  one  knew  that.  It  was  fun 
to  see  little  Johnny  Cooper  bang  away  on  a  big  drum, 
and  old  Mr.  Munson,  who  had  been  a  fifer  all  his  days, 
blow  till  he  was  as  red  as  a  lobster,  while  every  one 
kept  time  to  the  music  which  put  them  all  in  good 
spirits  for  the  opening  scene. 

Up  went  the  curtain  and  several  trees  in  tubs  ap 
peared,  then  a  stately  gentleman  in  small  clothes, 
cocked  hat,  gray  wig,  and  an  imposing  cane,  came 
slowly  walking  in.  It  was  Gus,  who  had  been  unani 
mously  chosen  not  only  for  Washington  but  for  the 
father  of  the  hero  also,  that  the  family  traits  of  long 
legs  and  a  somewhat  massive  nose  might  be  preserved. 

"  Ahem  !  My  trees  are  doing  finely,"  observed  Mr. 
W.,  senior,  strolling  along  with  his  hands  behind  him, 
casting  satisfied  glances  at  the  dwarf  orange,  oleander, 
abutilon,  and  little  pine  that  represented  his  orchard. 

Suddenly  he  starts,  pauses,  frowns,  and,  after  ex 
amining  the  latter  shrub,  which  displayed  several 
hacks  in  its  stem  and  a  broken  limb  with  six  red-vel 
vet  cherries  hanging  on  it,  he  jjave  a  thump  with 


THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY.      139 

his  cane  that  made  the  little  ones  jump,  and  cried 
out,  — 

"  Can  it  have  been  my  son  ?  " 

He  evidently  thought  it  was,  for  he  called,  in  tones 
of  thunder,  — 

"  George !  George  Washington,  come  hither  this 
moment ! " 

Great  suspense  on  the  part  of  the  audience,  then  a 
general  burst  of  laughter  as  Boo  trotted  in,  a  perfect 
miniature  of  his  honored  parent,  knee  breeches,  cocked 
hat,  shoe  buckles  and  all.  He  was  so  fat  that  the  little 
tails  of  his  coat  stuck  out  in  the  drollest  way,  his 
chubby  legs  could  hardly  carry  the  big  buckles,  and 
the  rosy  face  displayed,  when  he  took  his  hat  off  with 
a  dutiful  bow,  was  so  solemn,  the  real  George  could 
not  have  looked  more  anxious  when  he  gave  the  im 
mortal  answer. 

"Sirrah,  did  you  cut  that  tree?"  demanded  the 
papa,  with  another  rap  of  the  cane,  and  such  a 
frown  that  poor  Boo  looked  dismayed,  till  Molly 
whispered,  "  Put  your  hand  up,  dear."  Then  he  re 
membered  his  part,  and,  putting  one  finger  in  his 
mouth,  looked  down  at  his  square-toed  shoes,  the 
image  of  a  shame-stricken  boy. 

"My  son,  do  not  deceive  me.  If  you  have  done 
this  deed  I  shall  chastise  you,  for  it  is  my  duty  not 
to  spare  the  rod,  lest  I  spoil  the  child.  But  if  you 
lie  about  it  you  disgrace  the  name  of  Washington 
forever." 

This  appeal  seemed  to  convulse  George  with  in 
ward  agony,  for  he  squirmed  most  effectively  as  he 
drew  from  his  pocket  a  toy  hatchet,  which  would  not 
have  cut  a  straw,  then  looking  straight  up  into  the 


140  JACK  AND  JILL. 

awe-inspiring  countenance  of  his  parent,  he  bravely 
lisped,  — 

"Papa,  I  tannot  tell  a  lie.  I  did  tut  it  with  my 
little  hanchet." 

"  Noble  boy,  —  come  to  my  arms  !  I  had  rather 
you  spoilt  all  my  cherry  trees  than  tell  one  lie  ! " 
cried  the  delighted  gentleman,  catching  his  son  in 
an  embrace  so  close  that  the  fat  legs  kicked  convul 
sively,  and  the  little  coat-tails  waved  in  the  breeze, 
while  cane  and  hatchet  fell  with  a  dramatic  bang. 

The  curtain  descended  on  this  affecting  tableau ; 
but  the  audience  called  out  both  Washingtons,  and 
they  came,  hand  in  hand,  bowing  with  the  cocked 
hats  pressed  to  their  breasts,  the  elder  smiling  blandly, 
while  the  younger,  still  flushed  by  his  exertions,  nod 
ded  to  his  friends,  asking,  with  engaging  frankness, 
"  Was  n't  it  nice  ?  " 

The  next  was  a  marine  piece,  for  a  boat  was  seen, 
surrounded  by  tumultuous  waves  of  blue  cambric,  and 
rowed  by  a  party  of  stalwart  men  in  regimentals,  who 
with  difficulty  kept  their  seats,  for  the  boat  was  only  a 
painted  board,  and  they  sat  on  boxes  or  stools  behind 
it.  But  few  marked  the  rowers,  for  in  their  midst, 
tall,  straight,  and  steadfast  as  a  mast,  stood  one  figure 
in  a  cloak,  with  folded  arms,  high  boots,  and,  under 
the  turned-up  hat,  a  noble  countenance,  stern  with 
indomitable  courage.  A  sword  glittered  at  his  side, 
and  a  banner  waved  over  him,  but  his  eye  was  fixed 
on  the  distant  shore,  and  he  was  evidently  unconscious 
of  the  roaring  billows,  the  blocks  of  ice,  the  discour 
agement  of  his  men,  or  the  danger  and  death  that 
might  await  him.  Napoleon  crossing  the  Alps  was  not 
half  so  sublime,  and  with  one  voice  the  audience  cried, 


THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY.     141 

"  Washington  crossing  the  Delaware ! "  while  the 
band  burst  forth  with,  "  See,  the  conquering  hero 
comes ! "  all  out  of  tune,  but  bound  to  play  it  or  die 
in  the  attempt. 

It  would  have  been  very  successful  if,  all  of  a  sud 
den,  one  of  the  rowers  had  not  "  caught  a  crab  "  with 
disastrous  consequences.  The  oars  were  not  moving, 
but  a  veteran,  who  looked  very  much  like  Joe, 
dropped  the  one  he  held,  and  in  trying  to  turn  and 
pummel  the  black-eyed  warrior  behind  him,  he  tum 
bled  off  his  seat,  upsetting  two  other  men,  and  pulling 
the  painted  boat  upon  them  as  they  lay  kicking  in  the 
cambric  deep.  Shouts  of  laughter  greeted  this  mis 
hap,  but  George  Washington  never  stirred.  Grasping 
the  banner,  he  stood  firm  when  all  else  went  down  in 
the  general  wreck,  and  the  icy  waves  engulfed  his 
gallant  crew,  leaving  him  erect  amid  a  chaos  of  wildly 
tossing  boots,  entangled  oars,  and  red-faced  victims. 
Such  god-like  dignity  could  not  fail  to  impress  the 
frivolous  crowd  of  laughers,  and  the  curtain  fell  amid 
a  round  of  applause  for  him  alone. 

"  Quite  exciting,  wasn't  it?  Did  n't  know  Gus  had 
so  much  presence  of  mind,"  said  Mr.  Burton,  well 
pleased  with  his  boy. 

"If  we  did  not  know  that  Washington  died  in 
his  bed,  December  14,  1799,  I  should  fear  that  we  'd 
seen  the  last  of  him  in  that  shipwreck,"  laughed  an 
old  gentleman,  proud  of  his  memory  for  dates. 

Much  confusion  reigned  behind  the  scenes;  Ralph 
was  heard  scolding,  and  Joe  set  every  one  off  again 
by  explaining,  audibly,  that  Grif  tickled  him,  and  he 
couldn't  stand  it.  A  pretty,  old-fashioned  picture  of 
the  "Daughters  of  Liberty"  followed,  for  the  girls 


142  JACK  AND  JILL. 

were  determined  to  do  honor  to  the  brave  and  patient 
women  who  so  nobly  bore  their  part  in  the  struggle, 
yet  are  usually  forgotten  when  those  days  are  cele 
brated.  The  damsels  were  charming  in  the  big  caps, 
flowered  gowns,  and  high-heeled  shoes  of  their  great- 
grandmothers,  as  they  sat  about  a  spider-legged  table 
talking  over  the  tax,  and  pledging  themselves  to  drink 
no  more  tea  till  it  was  taken  off.  Molly  was  on  her 
feet  proposing,  "  Liberty  forever,  and  down  with  all 
tyrants,"  to  judge  from  her  flashing  eyes  as  she  held 
her  egg-shell  cup  aloft,  while  the  others  lifted  theirs 
to  drink  the  toast,  and  Merry,  as  hostess,  sat  with  her 
hand  on  an  antique  teapot,  labelled  "  Sage,"  ready  to 
fill  again  when  the  patriotic  ladies  were  ready  for  a 
second  "  dish." 

This  was  much  applauded,  and  the  curtain  went  up 
again,  for  the  proud  parents  enjoyed  seeing  their 
pretty  girls  in  the  faded  finery  of  a  hundred  years  ago. 
The  band  played  "  Auld  Lang  Syne,"  as  a  gentle  hint 
that  our  fore-mothers  should  be  remembered  as  well  as 
the  fore-fathers. 

It  was  evident  that  something  very  martial  was  to 
follow,  for  a  great  tramping,  clashing,  and  flying  about 
took  place  behind  the  scenes  while  the  tea-party  was 
going  on.  After  some  delay,  "  The  Surrender  of 
Cornwallis  "  was  presented  in  the  most  superb  man 
ner,  as  you  can  believe  when  I  tell  you  that  the  stnge 
was  actually  lined  with  a  glittering  array  of  Washing 
ton  and  his  generals,  Lafayette,  Kosciusko,  Rocham- 
beau  and  the  rest,  all  in  astonishing  uniforms,  with 
swords  which  were  evidently  the  pride  of  their  lives. 
Fife  and  drum  struck  up  a  march,  and  in  came  Corn 
wallis,  much  cast  down  but  full  of  manly  resignation, 


THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY.      143 

as  he  surrendered  his  sword,  and  stood  aside  with 
averted  eyes  while  his  army  marched  past,  piling  their 
arms  at  the  hero's  feet. 

This  scene  was  the  delight  of  the  boys,  for  the  rifles 
of  Company  F  had  been  secured,  and  at  least  a  dozen 
soldiers  kept  filing  in  and  out  in  British  uniform  till 
Washington's  august  legs  were  hidden  by  the  heaps 
of  arms  rattled  down  before  him.  The  martial  music, 
the  steady  tramp,  and  the  patriotic  memories  awak 
ened,  caused  this  scene  to  be  enthusiastically  encored, 
and  the  boys  would  have  gone  on  marching  till  mid 
night  if  Ralph  had  not  peremptorily  ordered  down 
the  curtain  and  cleared  the  stage  for  the  next  tableau. 

This  had  been  artfully  slipped  in  between  two  bril 
liant  ones,  to  show  that  the  Father  of  his  Country  had 
to  pay  a  high  price  for  his  glory.  The  darkened  stage 
represented  what  seemed  to  be  a  camp  in  a  snow-storm, 
and  a  very  forlorn  camp,  too ;  for  on  "  the  cold,  cold 
ground "  (a  reckless  display  of  cotton  batting)  lay 
ragged  soldiers,  sleeping  without  blankets,  their  worn- 
out  boots  turned  up  pathetically,  and  no  sign  of  food 
or  fire  to  be  seen.  A  very  shabby  sentinel,  with  feet 
bound  in  bloody  cloths,  and  his  face  as  pale  as  chalk 
could  make  it,  gnawed  a  dry  crust  as  he  kept  his  watch 
in  the  wintry  night. 

A  tent  at  the  back  of  the  stage  showed  a  solitary 
figure  sitting  on  a  log  of  wood,  poring  over  the  map 
spread  upon  his  knee,  by  the  light  of  one  candle  stuck 
in  a  bottle.  There  could  be  no  doubt  who  this  was, 
for  the  buff-and-blue  coat,  the  legs,  the  nose,  the  atti 
tude,  all  betrayed  the  great  George  laboring  to  save 
his  country,  in  spite  of  privations,  discouragements, 
and  dangers  which  would  have  daunted  any  other 
man. 


144  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  Valley  Forge,"  said  some  one,  and  the  room  was 
very  still  as  old  and  young  looked  silently  at  this 
little  picture  of  a  great  and  noble  struggle  in  one  of 
its  dark  hours.  The  crust,  the  wounded  feet,  the  rags, 
the  snow,  the  loneliness,  the  indomitable  courage  and 
endurance  of  these  men  touched  the  hearts  of  all,  for 
the  mimic  scene  grew  real  for  a  moment;  and,  when 
a  child's  voice  broke  the  silence,  asking  pitifully,  "  Oh, 
mamma,  was  it  truly  as  dreadful  as  that  ?  "  a  general 
outburst  answered,  as  if  every  one  wanted  to  cheer 
up  the  brave  fellows  and  bid  them  fight  on,  for  victory 
was  surely  coming. 

In  the  next  scene  it  did  come,  and  "  Washington  at 
Trenton  "  was  prettily  done.  An  arch  of  flowers 
crossed  the  stage,  wdth  the  motto,  "  The  Defender 
of  the  Mothers  will  be  the  Preserver  of  the  Daugh 
ters;"  and,  as  the  hero  with  his  generals  advanced  on 
one  side,  a  troop  of  girls,  in  old-fashioned  muslin 
frocks,  came  to  scatter  flowers  before  him,  singing 
the  song  of  long  ago  :  — 

"  Welcome,  mighty  chief,  once  more 
Welcome  to  this  grateful  shore  ; 
Now  no  mercenary  foe 
Aims  again  the  fatal  blow, — 
Aims  at  thee  the  fatal  blow. 

"  Virgins  fair  and  matrons  grave, 
Those  thy  conquering  arm  did  save, 
Build  for  thee  triumphal  bowers  ; 
Strew,  ye  fair,  his  way  with  flowers, — 
Strew  your  hero's  way  with  flowers." 

And  they  did,  singing  with  all  their  hearts  as  they 
flung  artificial  roses  and  lilies  at  the  feet  of  the  great 


THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY.      145 

men,  who  bowed  with  benign  grace.  Jack,  who  did 
Lafayette  with  a  limp,  covered  himself  with  glory  by 
picking  up  one  of  the  bouquets  and  pressing  it  to  his 
heart  with  all  the  gallantry  of  a  Frenchman ;  and 
when  Washington  lifted  the  smallest  of  the  maids 
and  kissed  her,  the  audience  cheered.  Could  n't  help 
it,  you  know,  it  was  so  pretty  and  inspiring. 

The  Washington  Family,  after  the  famous  picture, 
came  next,  with  Annette  as  the  serene  and  sensible 
Martha,  in  a  very  becoming  cap.  The  General  was 
in  uniform,  there  being  no  time  to  change,  but  his 
attitude  was  quite  correct,  and  the  Custis  boy  and 
girl  displayed  the  wide  sash  and  ruffled  collar  with 
historic  fidelity.  The  band  played  "  Home,"  and 
every  one  agreed  that  it  was  "  Sweet !  " 

"  Now  I  don't  see  what  more  they  can  have  except 
the  death-bed,  and  that  would  be  rather  out  of  place 
in  this  gay  company,"  said  the  old  gentleman  to  Mr. 
Burton,  as  he  mopped  his  heated  face  after  pound 
ing  so  heartily  he  nearly  knocked  the  ferule  off  his 
cane. 

"  No ;  they  gave  that  up,  for  my  boy  would  n't  wear 
a  night-gown  in  public.  I  can't  tell  secrets,  but  I  think 
they  have  got  a  very  clever  little  finale  for  the  first 
part,  —  a  pretty  compliment  to  one  person  and  a  pleas 
ant  surprise  to  all,"  answered  Mr.  Burton,  who  was  in 
great  spirits,  being  fond  of  theatricals  and  very  justly 
proud  of  his  children,  for  the  little  girls  had  been 
among  the  Trenton  maids,  and  the  mimic  General  had 
kissed  his  own  small  sister,  Nelly,  very  tenderly. 

A  great  deal  of  interest  was  felt  as  to  what  this 
surprise  was  to  be,  and  a  general  "  Oh ! "  greeted  the 
"  Minute  Man,"  standing  motionless  upon  his  pedestal 

10 


146  JACK  AND  JILL. 

It  was  Frank,  and  Ralph  had  done  his  best  to  have 
the  figure  as  perfect  as  possible,  for  the  maker  of  the 
original  had  been  a  good  friend  to  him;  and,  while 
the  young  sculptor  was  dancing  gayly  at  the  ball,  this 
copy  of  his  work  was  doing  him  honor  among  the 
children.  Frank  looked  it  very  well,  for  his  firm-set 
mouth  was  full  of  resolution,  his  eyes  shone  keen  and 
courageous  under  the  three-cornered  hat,  and  the  mus 
cles  stood  out  upon  the  bare  arm  that  clutched  the  old 
gun.  Even  the  buttons  on  the  gaiters  seemed  to  flash 
defiance,  as  the  sturdy  legs  took  the  first  step  from  the 
furrow  toward  the  bridge  where  the  young  farmer 
became  a  hero  when  he  "  fired  the  shot  heard  'round 
the  world." 

"  That  is  splendid !  "  "  As  like  to  the  original  as 
flesh  can  be  to  bronze."  "  How  still  he  stands ! " 
"  He  '11  fight  when  the  time  comes,  and  die  hard, 
won"t  he?"  "Hush!  You  make  the  statue  blush!" 
These  very  audible  remarks  certainly  did,  for  the 
color  rose  visibly  as  the  modest  lad  heard  himself 
praised,  though  he  saw  but  one  face  in  all  the  crowd, 
his  mother's,  far  back,  but  full  of  love  and  pride,  as 
she  looked  up  at  her  young  minute  man  waiting  for 
the  battle  which  often  calls  us  when  we  least  expect 
it,  and  for  which  she  had  done  her  best  to  make  him 
ready. 

If  there  had  been  any  danger  of  Frank  being  puffed 
up  by  the  success  of  his  statue,  it  was  counteracted 
by  irrepressible  Grif,  who,  just  at  the  most  interesting 
moment,  when  all  were  gazing  silently,  gave  a  whistle, 
followed  by  a  "  Choo,  choo,  choo !  "  and  "  All  aboard! " 
so  naturally  that  no  one  could  mistake  the  joke,  espe 
cially  as  another  laughing  voice  added,  "  Now,  then, 


THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY.     147 

No.  11  !  "  which  brought  down  the  house  and  the  cur 
tain  too. 

Frank  was  so  angry,  it  was  very  difficult  to  keep 
him  on  his  perch  for  the  last  scene  of  all.  He  sub 
mitted,  however,  rather  than  spoil  the  grand  finale, 
hoping  that  its  beauty  would  efface  that  ill-timed 
pleasantry  from  the  public  mind.  So,  when  the  agree 
able  clamor  of  hands  and  voices  called  for  a  repetition, 
the  Minute  Man  reappeared,  grimmer  than  before. 
But  not  alone,  for  grouped  all  about  his  pedestal 
were  Washington  and  his  generals,  the  matrons  and 
maids,  with  a  background  of  troops  shouldering  arms, 
Grif  and  Joe  doing  such  rash  things  with  their  mus 
kets,  that  more  than  one  hero  received  a  poke  in  his 
august  back.  Before  the  full  richness  of  this  picture 
had  been  taken  in,  Ed  gave  a  rap,  and  all  burst  out 
with  "Hail  Columbia,"  in  such  an  inspiring  style  that 
it  was  impossible  for  the  audience  to  refrain  from  join 
ing,  which  they  did,  all  standing  and  all  singing  with 
a  heartiness  that  made  the  walls  ring.  The  fife 
shrilled,  the  horn  blew  sweet  and  clear,  the  fiddle  was 
nearly  drowned  by  the  energetic  boom  of  the  drum, 
and  out  into  the  starry  night,  through  open  windows, 
rolled  the  song  that  stirs  the  coldest  heart  with  patri 
otic  warmth  and  tunes  every  voice  to  music. 

"  'America  ! '  We  must  have  '  America ! '  Pipe  up. 
Ed,  this  is  too  good  to  end  without  one  song  more," 
cried  Mr.  Burton,  who  had  been  singing  like  a  trum 
pet  ;  and,  hardly  waiting  to  get  their  breath,  off  they 
all  went  again  with  the  national  hymn,  singing  as  they 
never  had  sung  it  before,  for  somehow  the  little  scenes 
they  had  just  acted  or  beheld  seemed  to  show  how 
much  this  dear  America  of  ours  had  cost  in  more  than 


148  JACK  AND  JILL. 

one  revolution,  how  full  of  courage,  energy,  and  virtue 
it  was  in  spite  of  all  its  faults,  and  what  a  privilege,  as 
well  as  duty,  it  was  for  each  to  do  his  part  toward  its 
safety  and  its  honor  in  the  present,  as  did  those  brave 
men  and  women  in  the  past. 

So  the  "  Scenes  from  the  Life  of  Washington " 
were  a  great  success,  and,  when  the  songs  were  over, 
people  were  glad  of  a  brief  recess  while  they  had 
raptures,  and  refreshed  themselves  with  lemonade. 

The  girls  had  kept  the  secret  of  who  the  "  Princess  " 
was  to  be,  and,  when  the  curtain  rose,  a  hum  of  sur 
prise  and  pleasure  greeted  the  pretty  group.  Jill  lay 
asleep  in  all  her  splendor,  the  bonny  "  Prince  "  just 
lifting  the  veil  to  wake  her  with  a  kiss,  and  all  about 
them  the  court  in  its  nap  of  a  hundred  years.  The 
"  King "  and  "  Queen  "  dozing  comfortably  on  the 
throne  ;  the  maids  of  honor,  like  a  garland  of  nodding 
flowers,  about  the  couch  ;  the  little  page,  unconscious 
of  the  blow  about  to  fall,  and  the  fool  dreaming,  with 
his  mouth  wide  open. 

It  was  so  pretty,  people  did  not  tire  of  looking,  till 
Jack's  lame  leg  began  to  tremble,  and  he  whispered : 
"  Drop  her  or  I  shall  pitch."  Down  went  the  curtain ; 
but  it  rose  in  a  moment,  and  there  was  the  court  after 
the  awakening  :  the  "  King "  and  "  Queen  "  looking 
about  them  with  sleepy  dignity,  the  maids  in  various 
attitudes  of  surprise,  the  fool  grinning  from  ear  to  ear, 
and  the  "  Princess "  holding  out  her  hand  to  the 
"  Prince,"  as  if  glad  to  welcome  the  right  lover  when 
he  came  at  last. 

Molly  got  the  laugh  this  time,  for  she  could  not 
resist  giving  poor  Boo  the  cuff  which  had  been  hang 
ing  over  him  so  long.  She  gave  it  with  unconscious 


THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY.     149 

energy,  and  Boo  cried  "  Ow ! "  so  naturally  that  all 
the  children  were  delighted  and  wanted  it  repeated. 
But  Boo  declined,  and  the  scenes  which  followed  were 
found  quite  as  much  to  their  taste,  having  been  ex 
pressly  prepared  for  the  little  people. 

Mother  Goose's  Reception  was  really  very  funny, 
for  Ralph  was  the  old  lady,  and  had  hired  a  repre 
sentation  of  the  immortal  bird  from  a  real  theatre  for 
this  occasion.  There  they  stood,  the  dame  in  her 
pointed  hat,  red  petticoat,  cap,  and  cane,  with  the 
noble  fowl,  a  good  deal  larger  than  life,  beside  her? 
and  Grif  inside,  enjoying  himself  immensely  as  he 
flapped  the  wings,  moved  the  yellow  legs,  and  waved 
the  long  neck  about,  while  unearthly  quacks  issued 
from  the  bill.  That  was  a  great  surprise  for  the  chil 
dren,  and  they  got  up  in  their  seats  to  gaze  their  fill, 
many  of  them  firmly  believing  that  they  actually  be 
held  the  blessed  old  woman  who  wrote  the  nursery 
songs  they  loved  so  well. 

Then  in  came,  one  after  another,  the  best  of  the 
characters  she  has  made  famous,  while  a  voice  behind 
the  scenes  sang  the  proper  rhyme  as  each  made  their 
manners  to  the  interesting  pair.  "Mistress  Mary," 
and  her  "pretty  maids  all  in  a  row,"  passed  by  to 
their  places  in  the  background ;  "  King  Cole "  and 
his  "  fiddlers  three  "  made  a  goodly  show ;  so  did  the 
royal  couple,  who  followed  the  great  pie  borne  before 
them,  with  the  "  four-and-twenty  blackbirds"  pop 
ping  their  heads  out  in  the  most  delightful  way. 
Little  "Bo-Peep"  led  a  woolly  lamb  and  wept  over 
its  lost  tail,  for  not  a  sign  of  one  appeared  on  the  poor 
thing.  "  Simple  Simon  "  followed  the  pie-man,  gloat 
ing  over  his  wares  with  the  drollest  antics.  The  little 


150  JACK  AND  JILL. 

wife  came  trundling  by  in  a  wheelbarrow  and  was  not 
upset;  neither  was  the  lady  with  "rings  on  her  fin 
gers  and  bells  on  her  toes,"  as  she  cantered  along  on  a 
rocking-horse.  "Bobby  Shafto's"  yellow  hair  shone 
finely  as  he  led  in  the  maid  whom  he  came  back  from 
sea  to  marry.  "  Miss  Muffet,"  bowl  in  hand,  ran  away 
from  an  immense  black  spider,  which  waggled  its  long 
legs  in  a  way  so  life-like  that  some  of  the  children 
shook  in  their  little  shoes.  The  beggars  who  came  to 
town  were  out  in  full  force,  "rags,  tags,  and  velvet 
gowns,"  quite  true  to  life.  "  Boy  Blue  "  rubbed  his 
eyes,  with  hay  sticking  in  his  hair,  and  tooted  on  a  tin 
horn  as  if  bound  to  get  the  cows  out  of  the  corn. 
Molly,  with  a  long-handled  frying-pan,  made  a  capital 
"  Queen,"  in  a  tucked-up  gown,  checked  apron,  and 
high  crown,  to  good  "  King  Arthur,"  who,  very  prop 
erly,  did  not  appear  after  stealing  the  barley-meal, 
which  might  be  seen  in  the  pan  tied  up  in  a  pudding, 
like  a  cannon-ball,  ready  to  fry. 

But  Tobias,  Molly's  black  cat,  covered  himself  with 
glory  by  the  spirit  with  which  he  acted  his  part  in 

"  Sing,  sing,  what  shall  I  sing  ? 
The  cat 's  run  away  with  the  pudding-bag  string." 

First  he  was  led  across  the  stage  on  his  hind  legs, 
looking  very  fierce  and  indignant,  with  a  long  tape 
trailing  behind  him ;  and,  being  set  free  at  the  proper 
moment,  he  gave  one  bound  over  the  four-and-twenty 
blackbirds  who  happened  to  be  in  the  way,  and  dashed 
off  as  if  an  enraged  cook  had  actually  been  after  him, 
straight  downstairs  to  the  coal-bin,  where  he  sat  glar 
ing  in  the  dark,  till  the  fun  was  over. 

When  all  the  characters  had  filed  in  and  stood  in 


THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY.     151 

two  long  rows,  music  struck  up  and  they  danced, 
"  All  the  way  to  Boston,"  a  simple  but  lively  affair^ 
which  gave  each  a  chance  to  show  his  or  her  costume 
as  they  pranced  down  the  middle  and  up  outside. 

Such  a  funny  medley  as  it  was,  for  there  went  fat 
"  King  Cole "  with  the  most  ragged  of  the  beggar- 
maids.  "  Mistress  Mary,"  in  her  pretty  blue  dress, 
tripped  along  with  "  Simple  Simon "  staring  about 
him  like  a  blockhead.  The  fine  lady  left  her  horse 
to  dance  with  "  Bobby  Shafto  "  till  every  bell  on  her 
slippers  tinkled  its  tongue  out.  "  Bo-Peep "  and  a 
jolly  fiddler  skipped  gayly  up  and  down.  "Miss 
Muffet"  took  the  big  spider  for  her  partner,  and 
made  his  many  legs  fly  about  in  the  wildest  way. 
The  little  wife  got  out  of  the  wheelbarrow  to  help 
"  Boy  Blue  "  along,  and  Molly,  with  the  frying-pan 
over  her  shoulder,  led  off  splendidly  when  it  was 
"Grand  right  and  left." 

But  the  old  lady  and  her  goose  were  the  best  of  all, 
for  the  dame's  shoe-buckles  cut  the  most  astonishing 
pigeon-wings,  and  to  see  that  mammoth  bird  waddle 
down  the  middle  with  its  wings  half  open,  its  long 
neck  bridling,  and  its  yellow  legs  in  the  first  position 
as  it  curtsied  to  its  partner,  was  a  sight  to  remember, 
it  was  so  intensely  funny. 

The  merry  old  gentleman  laughed  till  he  cried ; 
Mr.  Burton  split  his  gloves,  he  applauded  so  enthusias 
tically  ;  while  the  children  beat  the  dust  out  of  the 
carpet  hopping  up  and  down,  as  they  cried :  "  Do  it 
again!"  "We  want  it  all  over!"  when  the  curtain 
went  down  at  last  on  the  flushed  and  panting  party, 

Mother  G bowing,  with  her  hat  all  awry,  and  the 

goose  doing  a  double  shuffle  as  if  it  did  not  know  how 
to  leave  off. 


152  JACK  AND  JILL. 

But  they  could  not  "  do  it  all  over  again,"  for  it  was 
growing  late,  and  the  people  felt  that  they  certainly 
had  received  their  money's  worth  that  evening. 

So  it  all  ended  merrily,  and  when  the  guests  de 
parted  the  boys  cleared  the  room  like  magic,  and  the 
promised  supper  to  the  actors  was  served  in  handsome 
style.  Jack  and  Jill  were  at  one  end,  Mrs.  Goose  and 
her  bird  at  the  other,  and  all  between  was  a  comical 
collection  of  military  heroes,  fairy  characters,  and  nur 
sery  celebrities.  All  felt  the  need  of  refreshment  after 
their  labors,  and  swept  over  the  table  like  a  flight  of 
locusts,  leaving  devastation  behind.  But  they  had 
earned  their  fun  :  and  much  innocent  jollity  prevailed, 
while  a  few  lingering  papas  and  mammas  watched  the 
revel  from  afar,  and  had  not  the  heart  to  order  these 
noble  beings  home  till  even  the  Father  of  his  Country 
declared  "  that  he  'd  had  a  perfectly  splendid  time,  but 
could  n't  keep  his  eyes  open  another  minute,"  and  very 
wisely  retired  to  replace  the  immortal  cocked  hat  with 
a  night-cap. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

JACK  HAS   A    MYSTERY. 

"  TTTHAT  is  the  matter?  Does  your  h'ead  ache  ?" 
VV  asked  Jill,  one  evening  in  March,  observing 
that  Jack  sat  with  his  head  in  his  hands,  an  attitude 
which,  with  him,  meant  either  pain  or  perplexity. 

"  No ;  but  I  'm  bothered.  I  want  some  money,  and 
I  don't  see  how  I  can  earn  it,"  he  answered,  tumbling 
his  hair  about,  and  frowning  darkly  at  the  fire. 

"  How  much  ? "  and  Jill's  ready  hand  went  to  the 
pocket  where  her  little  purse  lay,  for  she  felt  rich  with 
several  presents  lately  made  her. 

"  Two  seventy-five.    No,  thank  you,  I  won't  borrow." 

"What  is  it  for?" 

«  Can't  tell." 

"  Why,  I  thought  you  told  me  everything." 

"Sorry,  but  I  can't  this  time.  Don't  you  worry;  I 
shall  think  of  something." 

"  Could  n't  your  mother  help  ?  " 

"Don't  wish  to  ask  her." 

"  Why !  can't  she  know  ?  " 

"  Nobody  can." 

"  How  queer !  Is  it  a  scrape,  Jack  ?  "  asked  Jill, 
looking  as  curious  as  a  magpie. 

"  It  is  likely  to  be,  if  I  can't  get  out  of  it  this  week, 
somehow." 


154  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  Well,  I  don't  see  how  I  can  help  if  I  'm  not  to 
know  anything;"  and  Jill  seemed  rather  hurt. 

"  You  can  just  stop  asking  questions,  and  tell  me 
how  a  fellow  can  earn  some  money.  That  would  help. 
I  've  got  one  dollar,  but  I  must  have  some  more ; "  and 
Jack  looked  worried  as  he  fingered  the  little  gold  dol 
lar  on  his  watch-guard. 

"  Oh,  do  you  mean  to  use  that  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do ;  a  man  must  pay  his  debts  if  he  sells  all 
he  has  to  do  it,"  said  Jack  sternly. 

"  Dear  me  ;  it  must  be  something  very  serious." 
And  Jill  lay  quite  still  for  five  minutes,  thinking  over 
all  the  ways  in  which  Jack  ever  did  earn  money,  for 
Mrs.  Minot  liked  to  have  her  boys  work,  and  paid  them 
in  some  way  for  all  they  did. 

"  Is  there  any  wood  to  saw  ?  "  she  asked  presently, 
being  very  anxious  to  help. 

"  All  done." 

"Paths  to  shovel?" 

"  No  snow." 

"  Lawn  to  rake,  then  ?  " 

"  Not  time  for  that  yet." 

"  Catalogue  of  books  ?  " 

"  Frank  got  that  job." 

"  Copy  those  letters  for  your  mother  ?  " 

"  Take  me  too  long.  Must  have  my  money  Friday, 
if  possible." 

"  I  don't  see  what  we  can  do,  then.  It  is  too  early 
or  too  late  for  everything,  and  you  won't  borrow." 

"  Not  of  you.  No,  nor  of  any  one  else,  if  I  can  pos 
sibly  help  it.  I  've  promised  to  do  this  myself,  and  I 
will ; "  and  Jack  wagged  his  head  resolutely. 

"  Could  n't  you  do  something  with  the  printing-press  ? 


JACK  HAS  A   MYSTERY.  155 

Do  me  some  cards,  and  then,  perhaps,  the  other  girls 
will  want  some,"  said  Jill,  as  a  forlorn  hope. 

"  Just  the  thing !  What  a  goose  I  was  not  to  think 
of  it.  I  '11  rig  the  old  machine  up  at  once."  And, 
starting  from  his  seat,  Jack  dived  into  the  big  closet, 
dragged  out  the  little  press,  and  fell  to  oiling,  dusting, 
and  putting  it  in  order,  like  one  relieved  of  a  great 
anxiety. 

"  Give  me  the  types ;  I  '11  sort  them  and  set  up  my 
name,  so  you  can  begin  as  soon  as  you  are  ready.  You 
know  what  a  help  I  was  when  we  did  the  programmes. 
I  'm  almost  sure  the  girls  will  want  cards,  and  I  know 
your  mother  would  like  some  more  tags,"  said  Jill, 
briskly  rattling  the  letters  into  the  different  compart 
ments,  while  Jack  inked  the  rollers  and  hunted  up  his 
big  apron,  whistling  the  while  with  recovered  spirits. 

A  dozen  neat  cards  were  soon  printed,  and  Jill  in 
sisted  on  paying  six  cents  for  them,  as  earning  was 
not  borrowing.  A  few  odd  tags  were  found  and  done 
for  Mamma,  who  immediately  ordered  four  dozen  at 
six  cents  a  dozen,  though  she  was  not  told  why  there 
was  such  a  pressing  call  for  money. 

Jack's  monthly  half-dollar  had  been  spent  the  first 
week,  —  twenty-five  cents  for  a  concert,  ten  paid  a  fine 
for  keeping  a  book  too  long  from  the  library,  ten  more 
to  have  his  knife  ground,  and  five  in  candy,  for  he 
dearly  loved  sweeties,  and  was  under  bonds  to  Mamma 
not  to  spend  more  than  five  cents  a  month  on  these 
unwholesome  temptations.  She  never  asked  the  boys 
what  they  did  with  their  money,  but  expected  them  to 
keep  account  in  the  little  books  she  gave  them ;  and, 
now  and  then,  they  showed  the  neat  pages  with  par 
donable  pride,  though  she  often  laughed  at  the  queer 
items. 


156  JACK  AND  JILL. 

All  that  evening  Jack  &  Co.  worked  busily,  for 
when  Frank  came  in  he  good-naturedly  ordered  some 
pale-pink  cards  for  Annette,  and  ran  to  the  store  to 
choose  the  right  shade,  and  buy  some  packages  for  the 
young  printer  also. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  he  is  in  such  a  pucker  for  ?  " 
whispered  Jill,  as  she  set  up  the  new  name,  to  Frank, 
who  sat  close  by,  with  one  eye  on  his  book  and  one  on 
her. 

"  Oh,  some  notion.  He  's  a  queer  chap  ;  but  I  guess 
it  is  n't  much  of  a  scrape,  or  I  should  know  it.  He  's 
so  good-natured  he  's  always  promising  to  do  things 
for  people,  and  has  too  much  pluck  to  give  up  when 
he  finds  he  can't.  Let  him  alone,  and  it  will  all  come 
out  soon  enough,"  answered  Frank,  who  laughed  at 
his  brother,  but  loved  him  none  the  less  for  the  tender 
heart  that  often  got  the  better  of  his  young  head. 

But  for  once  Frank  was  mistaken ;  the  mystery  did 
toot  come  out,  and  Jack  worked  like  a  beaver  all  that 
week,  as  orders  poured  in  when  Jill  and  Annette 
showed  their  elegant  cards  ;  for,  as  everybody  knows, 
if  one  girl  has  a  new  thing  all  the  rest  must,  whether 
it  is  a  bow  on  the  top  of  her  head,  a  peculiar  sort  of 
pencil,  or  the  latest  kind  of  chewing-gum.  Little  play 
did  the  poor  fellow  get,  for  every  spare  minute  was 
spent  at  the  press,  and  no  invitation  could  tempt  him 
away,  so  much  in  earnest  was  our  honest  little  Frank 
lin  about  paying  his  debt.  Jill  helped  all  she  could, 
and  cheered  his  labors  with  her  encouragement,  re 
membering  how  he  stayed  at  home  for  her. 

"  It  is  real  good  of  you  to  lend  a  hand,  and  I  'm 
ever  so  much  obliged,"  said  Jack,  as  the  last  order 
was  struck  off,  and  the  drawer  of  the  type-box  held  a 


JACK  HAS  A   MYSTERY.  157 

pile  of  shining  five  and  ten  cent  pieces,  with  two  or 
three  quarters. 

"  I  love  to ;  only  it  would  be  nicer  if  I  knew  what 
we  were  working  for,"  she  said  demurely,  as  she  scat 
tered  type  for  the  last  time  ;  and  seeing  that  Jack 
was  both  tired  and  grateful,  hoped  to  get  a  hint  of 
the  secret. 

"  I  want  to  tell  you,  dreadfully  ;  but  I  can't,  because 
I  've  promised." 

"  What,  never  ?  " 

"  Never !  "  and  Jack  looked  as  firm  as  a  rock. 

"  Then  I  shall  find  out,  for  /  have  n't  promised." 

"  You  can't." 

«  See  if  I  don't !  " 

"  You  are  sharp,  but  you  won't  guess  this.  It 's  a 
tremendous  secret,  and  nobody  will  tell  it." 

"  You  '11  tell  it  yourself.     You  always  do." 

"  I  won't  tell  this.     It  would  be  mean." 

"  Wait  and  see ;  I  can  get  anything  out  of  you  if  I 
try ; "  and  Jill  laughed,  knowing  her  power  well,  for 
Jack  found  it  very  hard  to  keep  a  secret  from  her. 

"  Don't  try ;  please  don't !  It  would  n't  be  right, 
and  you  don't  want  to  make  me  do  a  dishonorable 
thing  for  your  sake,  I  know." 

Jack  looked  so  distressed  that  Jill  promised  not  to 
make  him  tell,  though  she  held  herself  free  to  find  out 
in  other  ways,  if  she  could. 

Thus  relieved,  Jack  trudged  off  to  school  on  Friday 
with  the  two  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents  jingling  in 
his  pocket,  though  the  dear  gold  coin  had  to  be  sacri 
ficed  to  make  up  the  sum.  He  did  his  lessons  badly 
that  day,  was  late  at  recess  in  the  afternoon,  and,  as 
soon  as  school  was  over,  departed  in  his  rubber  boots 


158  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"to  take  a  walk,"  he  said,  though  the  roads  were  in  a 
bad  state  with  a  spring  thaw.  Nothing  was  seen  of 
him  till  after  tea-time,  when  he  came  limping  in,  very 
dirty  and  tired,  but  with  a  reposeful  expression,  which 
betrayed  that  a  load  was  off  his  mind.  Frank  was 
busy  about  his  own  affairs  and  paid  little  attention  to 
him,  but  Jill  was  on  tenter-hooks  to  know  where  he 
had  been,  yet  dared  not  ask  the  question. 

"  Merry's  brother  wants  some  cards.  He  liked  hers 
so  much  he  wishes  to  make  his  lady-love  a  present. 
Here  's  the  name ; "  and  Jill  held  up  the  order  from 
Harry  Grant,  who  was  to  be  married  in  the  autumn. 

"  Must  wait  till  next  week.  I  'm  too  tired  to  do  a 
thing  to-night,  and  I  hate  the  sight  of  that  old  press," 
answered  Jack,  laying  himself  down  upon  the  rug  as 
if  every  joint  ached. 

**  What  made  you  take  such  a  long  walk  ?  You  look 
as  tired  as  if  you  'd  been  ten  miles,"  said  Jill,  hoping 
to  discover  the  length  of  the  trip. 

"  Had  to.  Four  or  five  miles  is  n't  much,  only  my 
leg  bothered  me ; "  and  Jack  gave  the  ailing  member  a 
slap,  as  if  he  had  found  it  much  in  his  way  that  day  ; 
for,  though  he  had  given  up  the  crutches  long  ago,  he 
rather  missed  their  support  sometimes.  Then,  with  a 
great  yawn,  he  stretched  himself  out  to  bask  in  the 
blaze,  pillowing  his  head  on  his  arms. 

"Dear  old  thing,  he  looks  all  used  up;  I  won't  plague 
him  with  talking ;"  and  Jill  began  to  sing,  as  she  often 
did  in  the  twilight. 

By  the  time  the  first  song  ended  a  gentle  snore  was 
heard,  and  Jack  lay  fast  asleep,  worn  out  with  the  busy 
week  and  the  walk,  which  had  been  longer  and  harder 
than  any  one  guessed.  Jill  took  up  her  knitting  and 


JACK  HAS  A   MYSTERY.  159 

worked  quietly  by  firelight,  still  wondering  and  guessing 
what  the  secret  could  be ;  for  she  had  not  much  to  amuse 
her,  and  little  things  were  very  interesting  if  connected 
with  her  friends.  Presently  Jack  rolled  over  and  began 
to  mutter  in  his  sleep,  as  he  often  did  when  too  weary 
for  sound  slumber.  Jill  paid  no  attention  till  he  uttered 
a  name  which  made  her  prick  up  her  ears  and  listen  to 
the  broken  sentences  which  followed.  Only  a  few 
words,  but  she  dropped  her  work,  saying  to  herself, — 

"  I  do  believe  he  is  talking  about  the  secret.  Now 
I  shall  find  out,  and  he  will  tell  me  himself,  as  I  said 
he  would." 

Much  pleased,  she  leaned  and  listened,  but  could 
make  no  sense  of  the  confused  babble  about  "  heavy 
boots;"  "All  right,  old  fellow ;"  "Jerry's  off;"  and 
"  The  ink  is  too  thick." 

The  slam  of  the  front  door  woke  Jack,  and  he 
pulled  himself  up,  declaring  that  he  believed  he  had 
been  having  a  nap. 

"  I  wish  you  'd  have  another,"  said  Jill,  greatly  dis 
appointed  at  the  loss  of  the  intelligence  she  seemed  to 
be  so  near  getting. 

"  Floor  is  too  hard  for  tired  bones.  Guess  I  '11  go 
to  bed  and  get  rested  up  for  Monday.  I  've  worked 
like  fury  this  week,  so  next  I  'm  going  in  for  fun ; " 
and,  little  dreaming  what  hard  times  were  in  store  for 
him,  Jack  went  off  to  enjoy  his  warm  bath  and  wel 
come  bed,  where  he  was  soon  sleeping  with  the  serene 
look  of  one  whose  dreams  were  happy,  whose  con 
science  was  at  rest. 

"  I  have  a  few  words  to  say  to  you  before  you  go," 
said  Mr.  Acton,  pausing  with  his  hand  on  the  bell, 


160  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Monday  afternoon,  when  the  hour  came  for  dismissing 
school. 

The  bustle  of  putting  away  books  and  preparing  for 
as  rapid  a  departure  as  propriety  allowed,  subsided 
suddenly,  and  the  boys  and  girls  sat  as  still  as  mice, 
while  the  hearts  of  such  as  had  been  guilty  of  any 
small  sins  began  to  beat  fast. 

"  You  remember  that  we  had  some  trouble  last  win 
ter  about  keeping  the  boys  away  from  the  saloon,  and 
that  a  rule  was  made  forbidding  any  pupil  to  go  to 
town  during  recess?"  began  Mr.  Acton,  who,  being  a 
conscientious  man  as  well  as  an  excellent  teacher,  felt 
that  he  was  responsible  for  the  children  in  school 
hours,  and  did  his  best  to  aid  parents  in  guarding  them 
from  the  few  temptations  which  beset  them  in  a  coun 
try  town.  A  certain  attractive  little  shop,  where  con 
fectionery,  base-balls,  stationery,  and  picture  papers 
were  sold,  was  a  favorite  loafing  place  for  some  of  the 
boys  till  the  rule  forbidding  it  was  made,  because  in 
the  rear  of  the  shop  was  a  beer  and  billiard  saloon. 
A  wise  rule,  for  the  picture  papers  were  not  always 
of  the  best  sort ;  cigars  were  to  be  had  ;  idle  fellows 
hung  about  there,  and  some  of  the  lads,  who  wanted 
to  be  thought  manly,  ventured  to  pass  the  green  baize 
door  "  just  to  look  on." 

A  murmur  answered  the  teacher's  question,  and  he 
continued,  — 

"  You  all  know  that  the  rule  was  broken  several 
times,  and  I  told  you  the  next  offender  would  be  pub 
licly  reprimanded,  as  private  punishments  had  no  effect. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the  time  has  come,  and  the 
offender  is  a  boy  whom  I  trusted  entirely.  It  grieves 
me  to  do  this,  but  I  must  keep  my  promise,  and  hope 
the  example  will  have  a  good  effect." 


JACK  HAS  A   MYSTERY.  161 

Mr.  Acton  paused,  as  if  he  found  it  hard  to  go  on, 
and  the  boys  looked  at  one  another  with  inquiring 
eyes,  for  their  teacher  seldom  punished,  and  when  he 
did,  it  was  a  very  solemn  thing.  Several  of  these  anx 
ious  glances  fell  upon  Joe,  who  was  very  red  and  sat 
whittling  a  pencil  as  if  he  dared  not  lift  his  eyes. 

"  He  's  the  chap.  Won't  he  catch  it  ?  "  whispered 
Gus  to  Frank,  for  both  owed  him  a  grudge. 

"  The  boy  who  broke  the  rule  last  Friday,  at  after^ 
noon  recess,  will  come  to  the  desk,"  said  Mr.  Acton  in 
his  most  impressive  manner. 

If  a  thunderbolt  had  fallen  through  the  roof  it  would 
hardly  have  caused  a  greater  surprise  than  the  sight 
of  Jack  Minot  walking  slowly  down  the  aisle,  with  a 
wrathful  flash  in  the  eyes  he  turned  on  Joe  as  he 
passed  him. 

"  Now,  Minot,  let  us  have  this  over  as  soon  as  pos 
sible,  for  I  do  not  like  it  any  better  than  you  do,  and 
I  am  sure  there  is  some  mistake.  I  'm  told  you  went 
to  the  shop  on  Friday.  Is  it  true  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Acton 
very  gently,  for  he  liked  Jack  and  seldom  had  to  cor 
rect  him  in  any  way. 

"  Yes,  sir ; "  and  Jack  looked  up  as  if  proud  to  show 
that  he  was  not  afraid  to  tell  the  truth  as  far  as  he 
could. 

"  To  buy  something  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  To  meet  some  one  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Was  it  Jerry  Shannon  ?  " 

No  answer,  but  Jack's  fists  doubled  up  of  themselves 
as  he  shot  another  fiery  glance  at  Joe,  whose  face 
burned  as  if  it  scorched  him. 

11 


162  JACK  AND  JILL. 

11 1  am  told  it  was ;  also  that  you  were  seen  to  go 
into  the  saloon  with  him.  Did  you  ?  "  and  Mr.  Acton 
looked  so  sure  that  it  was  a  mistake  that  it  cost  Jack 
a  great  effort  to  say,  slowly,  — 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Quite  a  thrill  pervaded  the  school  at  this  confession, 
for  Jerry  was  one  of  the  wild  fellows  the  boys  all 
shunned,  and  to  have  any  dealings  with  him  was  con 
sidered  a  very  disgraceful  thing. 

"  Did  you  play  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.     I  can't." 

"  Drink  beer  ?  " 

"  I  belong  to  the  Lodge  ;"  and  Jack  stood  as  erect  as 
any  little  soldier  who  ever  marched  under  a  temper 
ance  banner,  and  fought  for  the  cause  none  are  too 
young  nor  too  old  to  help  along. 

"  I  was  sure  of  that.  Then  what  took  you  there, 
my  boy  ?  " 

The  question  was  so  kindly  put  that  Jack  forgot 
himself  an  instant,  and  blurted  out,  — 

"  I  only  went  to  pay  him  some  money,  sir." 

"Ah,  how  much?" 

"  Two  seventy-five,"  muttered  Jack,  as  red  as  a 
cherry  at  not  being  able  to  keep  a  secret  better. 

"  Too  much  for  a  lad  like  you  to  owe  such  a  fellow 
as  Jerry.  How  came  it?"  And  Mr.  Acton  looked 
disturbed. 

Jack  opened  his  lips  to  speak,  but  shut  them  again, 
and  stood  looking  down  with  a  little  quiver  about  the 
mouth  that  showed  how  much  it  cost  him  to  be  silent. 

"  Does  any  one  beside  Jerry  know  of  this  ?  " 

"  One  other  fellow,"  after  a  pause. 

"  Yes,  I  understand  ; "    and  Mr.  Acton's  eye  glanced 


JACK  HAS  A   MYSTERY.  163 

at  Joe  with  a  look  that  seemed  to  say,  "  I  wish  he  'd 
held  his  tongue." 

A  queer  smile  flitted  over  Jack's  face,  for  Joe  was 
not  the  "  other  fellow,"  and  knew  very  little  about  it, 
excepting  what  he  had  seen  when  he  was  sent  on  an 
errand  by  Mr.  Acton  on  Friday. 

"  I  wish  you  would  explain  the  matter,  John,  for  I 
am  sure  it  is  better  than  it  seems,  and  it  would  be  very 
hard  to  punish  you  when  you  don't  deserve  it." 

"  But  I  do  deserve  it ;  I  've  broken  the  rule,  and  I 
ought  to  be  punished,"  said  Jack,  as  if  a  good  whip 
ping  would  be  easier  to  bear  than  this  public  cross- 
examination. 

"  And  you  can't  explain,  or  even  say  you  are  sorry 
or  ashamed?"  asked  Mr.  Acton,  hoping  to  surprise 
another  fact  out  of  the  boy. 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  can't ;  I  'm  not  ashamed  ;  I  'm  not  sorry, 
and  I  'd  do  it  again  to-morrow  if  I  had  to,"  cried 
Jack,  losing  patience,  and  looking  as  if  he  would  not 
bear  much  more. 

A  groan  from  the  boys  greeted  this  bare-faced  dec 
laration,  and  Susy  quite  shivered  at  the  idea  of  having 
taken  two  bites  out  of  the  apple  of  such  a  hardened 
desperado. 

"  Think  it  over  till  to-morrow,  and  perhaps  you  will 
change  your  mind.  Remember  that  this  is  the  last 
week  of  the  month,  and  reports  are  given  out  next 
Friday,"  said  Mr.  Acton,  knowing  how  much  the  boy 
prided  himself  on  always  having  good  ones  to  show 
his  mother. 

Poor  Jack  turned  scarlet  and  bit  his  lips  to  keep 
them  still,  for  he  had  forgotten  this  when  he  plunged 
into  the  -affair  which  was  likely  to  cost  him  dear.  Then 


164  JACK  AND  JILL. 

the  color  faded  away,  the  boyish  face  grew  steady,  and 
the  honest  eyes  looked  up  at  his  teacher  as  he  said 
very  low,  but  all  heard  him,  the  room  was  so  still,  — 

"  It  is  n't  as  bad  as  it  looks,  sir,  but  I  can't  say  any 
more.  No  one  is  to  blame  but  me ;  and  I  could  n't 
help  breaking  the  rule,  for  Jerry  was  going  away,  I 
had  only  that  time,  and  I  'd  promised  to  pay  up,  so 
I  did." 

Mr.  Acton  believed  every  word  he  said,  and  re 
gretted  that  they  had  not  been  able  to  have  it  out 
privately,  but  he,  too,  must  keep  his  promise  and  pun 
ish  the  offender,  whoever  he  was. 

"  Very  well,  you  will  lose  your  recess  for  a  week, 
and  this  month's  report  will  be  the  first  one  in  which 
behavior  does  not  get  the  highest  mark.  You  may 
go ;  and  I  wish  it  understood  that  Master  Minot  is  not 
to  be  troubled  with  questions  till  he  chooses  to  set 
this  matter  right." 

Then  the  bell  rang,  the  children  trooped  out,  Mr. 
Acton  went  off  without  another  word,  and  Jack  was 
left  alone  to  put  up  his  books  and  hide  a  few  tears 
that  would  come  because  Frank  turned  his  eyes  away 
from  the  imploring  look  cast  upon  him  as  the  culprit 
came  down  from  the  platform,  a  disgraced  boy. 

Elder  brothers  are  apt  to  be  a  little  hard  on  younger 
ones,  so  it  is  not  surprising  that  Frank,  who  was  an  emi 
nently  proper  boy,  was  much  cut  up  when  Jack  publicly 
confessed  to  dealings  with  Jerry,  leaving  it  to  be  sup 
posed  that  the  worst  half  of  the  story  remained  untold. 
He  felt  it  his  duty,  therefore,  to  collar  poor  Jack  when 
he  came  out,  and  talk  to  him  all  the  way  home,  like  a 
judge  bent  on  getting  at  the  truth  by  main  force.  A 
kind  word  would  have  been  very  comforting,  but  the 


JACK  HAS  A   MYSTERY.  165 

scolding  was  too  much  for  Jack's  temper,  so  he  turned 
dogged  and  would  not  say  a  word,  though  Frank 
threatened  not  to  speak  to  him  for  a  week. 

At  tea-time  both  boys  were  very  silent,  one  looking 
grim,  the  other  excited.  Frank  stared  sternly  at  his 
brother  across  the  table,  and  no  amount  of  marma 
lade  sweetened  or  softened  that  reproachful  look. 
Jack  defiantly  crunched  his  toast,  with  occasional 
slashes  at  the  butter,  as  if  he  must  vent  the  pent- 
up  emotions  which  half  distracted  him.  Of  course, 
their  mother  saw  that  something  was  amiss,  but  did 
not  allude  to  it,  hoping  that  the  cloud  would  blow 
over  as  so  many  did  if  left  alone.  But  this  one  did 
not,  and  when  both  refused  cake,  this  sure  sign  of 
unusual  perturbation  made  her  anxious  to  know  the 
cause.  As  soon  as  tea  was  over,  Jack  retired  with 
gloomy  dignity  to  his  own  room,  and  Frank,  casting 
away  the  paper  he  had  been  pretending  to  read,  burst 
out  with  the  whole  story.  Mrs.  Minot  was  as  much 
surprised  as  he,  but  not  angry,  because,  like  most 
mothers,  she  was  sure  that  her  sons  could  not  do  any 
thing  very  bad. 

"  I  will  speak  to  him  ;  my  boy  won't  refuse  to  give 
me  some  explanation,"  she  said,  when  Frank  had  freed 
his  mind  with  as  much  warmth  as  if  Jack  had  broken 
all  the  ten  commandments. 

"  He  will.  You  often  call  me  obstinate,  but  he  is  as 
pig-headed  as  a  mule ;  Joe  only  knows  what  he  saw, 
old  tell-tale  !  and  Jerry  has  left  town,  or  I  'd  have  it 
out  of  him.  Make  Jack  own  up,  whether  he  can  or 
not.  Little  donkey  !  "  stormed  Frank,  who  hated  row 
dies  and  could  not  forgive  his  brother  for  being  seen 
with  one. 


166  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  My  dear,  all  boys  do  foolish  things  sometimes, 
even  the  wisest  and  best  behaved,  so  don't  be  hard  on 
the  poor  child.  He  has  got  into  trouble,  I  've  no 
doubt,  but  it  cannot  be  very  bad,  and  he  earned  the 
money  to  pay  for  his  prank,  whatever  it  was." 

Mrs.  Minot  left  the  room  as  she  spoke,  and  Frank 
cooled  down  as  if  her  words  had  been  a  shower-bath, 
for  he  remembered  his  own  costly  escapade,  and  how 
kindly  both  his  mother  and  Jack  had  stood  by  him  on 
that  trying  occasion.  So,  feeling  rather  remorseful, 
he  went  off  to  talk  it  over  with  Gus,  leaving  Jill  in  a 
fever  of  curiosity,  for  Merry  and  Molly  had  dropped 
in  on  their  way  home  to  break  the  blow  to  her,  and 
Frank  declined  to  discuss  it  with  her,  after  mildly 
stating  that  Jack  was  a  "  a  ninny,"  in  his  opinion. 

"  Well,  I  know  one  thing,"  said  Jill  confidentially 
to  Snow-ball,  when  they  were  left  alone  together,  "  if 
every  one  else  is  scolding  him  I  won't  say  a  word. 
It 's  so  mean  to  crow  over  people  when  they  are  down, 
and  I  'm  sure  he  has  n't  done  anything  to  be  ashamed 
of,  though  he  won't  tell." 

Snow-ball  seemed  to  agree  to  this,  for  he  went  and 
sat  down  by  Jack's  slippers  waiting  for  him  on  the 
hearth,  and  Jill  thought  that  a  very  touching  proof  of 
affectionate  fidelity  to  the  little  master  who  ruled  them 
both. 

When  he  came,  it  was  evident  that  he  had  found  it 
harder  to  refuse  his  mother  than  all  the  rest.  But  she 
trusted  him  in  spite  of  appearances,  and  that  was 
such  a  comfort !  for  poor  Jack's  heart  was  very  full, 
and  he  longed  to  tell  the  whole  story,  but  he  would 
not  break  his  promise,  and  so  kept  silence  bravely. 
Jill  asked  no  questions,  affecting  to  be  anxious  for  the 


JACK  HAS  A   MYSTERY.  167 

games  they  always  played  together  in  the  evening,  but 
while  they  played,  though  the  lips  were  sealed,  the 
bright  eyes  said  as  plainly  as  words,  "  I  trust  you," 
and  Jack  was  very  grateful. 

It  was  well  he  had  something  to  cheer  him  up  at 
home,  for  he  got  little  peace  at  school.  He  bore  the 
grave  looks  of  Mr.  Acton  meekly,  took  the  boys'  jokes 
good-naturedly,  and  withstood  the  artful  teasing  of  the 
girls  with  patient  silence.  But  it  was  very  hard  for 
the  social,  affectionate  fellow  to  bear  the  general  dis 
trust,  for  he  had  been  such  a  favorite  he  felt  the  change 
keenly. 

But  the  thing  that  tried  him  most  was  the  knowl 
edge  that  his  report  would  not  be  what  it  usually  was. 
It  was  always  a  happy  moment  when  he  showed  it  to 
his  mother,  and  saw  her  eye  brighten  as  it  fell  on  the 
99  or  100,  for  she  cared  more  for  good  behavior  than 
for  perfect  lessons.  Mr.  Acton  once  said  that  Frank 
Minot's  moral  influence  in  the  school  was  unusual,  and 
Jack  never  forgot  her  pride  and  delight  as  she  told 
them  what  Frank  himself  had  not  known  till  then.  It 
was  Jack's  ambition  to  have  the  same  said  of  him,  for 
he  was  not  much  of  a  scholar,  and  he  had  tried  hard 
since  he  went  back  to  school  to  get  good  records  in 
that  respect  at  least.  Now  here  was  a  dreadful  down 
fall,  tardy  marks,  bad  company,  broken  rules,  and 
something  too  wrong  to  tell,  apparently. 

"  Well,  I  deserve  a  good  report,  and  that 's  a  com 
fort,  though  nobody  believes  it,"  he  said  to  himself, 
trying  to  keep  up  his  spirits,  as  the  slow  week  went 
by,  and  no  word  from  him  had  cleared  up  the  mystery. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

AND  JILL   FINDS  IT  OUT. 

T~ILL  worried  about  it  more  than  he  did,  for  she  was 
^J  a  faithful  little  friend,  and  it  was  a  great  trial  to 
have  Jack  even  suspected  of  doing  anything  wrong. 
School  is  a  child's  world  while  he  is  there,  and  its 
small  affairs  are  very  important  to  him,  so  Jill  felt  that 
the  one  thing  to  be  done  was  to  clear  away  the  cloud 
about  her  dear  boy,  and  restore  him  to  public  favor. 

"  Ed  will  be  here  Saturday  night  and  may  be  he  will 
find  out,  for  Jack  tells  him  everything.  I  do  hate  to 
have  him  hectored  so,  for  I  know  he  is,  though  he  's 
too  proud  to  complain,"  she  said,  on  Thursday  even 
ing,  when  Frank  told  her  some  joke  played  upon  his 
brother  that  day. 

"  I  let  him  alone,  but  I  see  that  he  is  n't  badgered 
too  much.  That 's  all  I  can  do.  If  Ed  had  only  come 
home  last  Saturday  it  might  have  done  some  good,  but 
now  it  will  be  too  late ;  for  the  reports  are  given  out 
to-morrow,  you  know,"  answered  Frank,  feeling  a  little 
jealous  of  Ed's  influence  over  Jack,  though  his  own 
would  have  been  as  great  if  he  had  been  as  gentle. 

"  Has  Jerry  come  back  ?  "  asked  Jill,  who  kept  all 
her  questions  for  Frank,  because  she  seldom  alluded  to 
the  tender  subject  when  with  Jnck. 


AND  JILL  FINDS  IT  OUT.  169 

"  No,  he  's  off  for  the  summer.  Got  a  place  some 
where.  Hope  he  '11  stay  there  and  let  Bob  alone." 

"  Where  is  Bob  now  ?  I  don't  hear  much  about 
him  lately,"  said  Jill,  who  was  constantly  on  the  look 
out  for  "  the  other  fellow,"  since  it  was  not  Joe. 

"  Oh,  he  went  to  Captain  Skinner's  the  first  of 
March,  chores  round,  and  goes  to  school  up  there. 
Captain  is  strict,  and  won't  let  Bob  come  to  town,  ex 
cept  Sundays  ;  but  he  don't  mind  it  much,  for  he  likes 
horses,  has  nice  grub,  and  the  Hill  fellows  are  good 
chaps  for  him  to  be  with.  So  he 's  all  right,  if  he  only 
behaves." 

"  How  far  is  it  to  Captain  Skinner's  ?  "  asked  Jill 
suddenly,  having  listened,  with  her  sharp  eyes  on 
Frank,  as  he  tinkered  away  at  his  model,  since  he  was 
forbidden  all  other  indulgence  in  his  beloved  pastime. 

"  It 's  four  miles  to  Hill  District,  but  the  Captain 
lives  this  side  of  the  school-house.  About  three  from 
here,  I  should  say." 

"  How  long  would  it  take  a  boy  to  walk  up  there  ?" 
went  on  the  questioner,  with  a  new  idea  in  her  head. 

"  Depends  on  how  much  of  a  walkist  he  is." 

"  Suppose  he  was  lame  and  it  was  sloshy,  and  he 
made  a  call  and  came  back.  How  long  would  that 
take  ?  "  asked  Jill  impatiently. 

"  Well,  in  that  case,  I  should  say  two  or  three  hours. 
But  it 's  impossible  to  tell  exactly,  unless  you  know 
how  lame  the  fellow  was,  and  how  long  a  call  he 
made,"  said  Frank,  who  liked  to  be  accurate. 

"Jack  could  n't  do  it  in  less,  could  he  ?  " 

"  He  used  to  run  up  that  hilly  road  for  a  breather, 
and  think  nothing  of  it.  It  would  be  a  long  job  for 
him  now,  poor  little  chap,  for  his  leg  often  troubles 
him,  though  he  hates  to  own  it." 


170  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Jill  lay  back  and  laughed,  a  happy  little  laugh,  as  if 
she  was  pleased  about  something,  and  Frank  looked 
over  his  shoulder  to  ask  questions  in  his  turn. 

"  What  are  you  laughing  at  ?  " 

«  Can't  tell." 

"  Why  do  you  want  to  know  about  Hill  District  ? 
Are  you  going  there? " 

"  Wish  I  could  !     I  'd  soon  have  it  out  of  him." 

«'  Who  ?  " 

"  Never  mind.  Please  push  up  my  table.  I  must 
write  a  letter,  and  I  want  you  to  post  it  for  me  to 
night,  and  never  say  a  word  till  I  give  you  leave." 

"  Oh,  now  you  are  going  to  have  secrets  and  be  mys 
terious,  and  get  into  a  mess,  are  you  ?  "  and  Frank 
looked  down  at  her  with  a  suspicious  air,  though  he 
was  intensely  curious  to  know  what  she  was  about. 

"  Go  away  till  I  'm  done.  You  will  have  to  see  the 
outside,  but  you  can't  know  the  inside  till  the  answer 
comes ;  "  and  propping  herself  up,  Jill  wrote  the  fol 
lowing  note,  with  some  hesitation  at  the  beginning  and 
end,  for  she  did  not  know  the  gentleman  she  was  ad 
dressing,  except  by  sight,  and  it  was  rather  awkward  :  — 

"  ROBERT   WALKER. 

"  DEAR  SIR,  —  I  want  to  ask  if  Jack  Minot  came  to  see  you 
last  Friday  afternoon.  He  got  into  trouble  being  seen  with  Jerry 
Shannon.  He  paid  him  some  money.  Jack  won't  tell,  and  Mr. 
Acton  talked  to  him  about  it  before  all  the  school.  We  feel  bad, 
because  we  think  Jack  did  not  do  wrong.  I  don't  know  as  you 
have  anything  to  do  with  it,  but  I  thought  I  'd  ask.  Please 
answer  quick.  —  Respectfully  yours,  JANE  PECQ." 

To  make  sure  that  her  despatch  was  not  tampered 
with,  Jill  put  a  great  splash  of  red  sealing-wax  on  it, 


AND  JILL  FINDS  IT  OUT.  171 

which  gave  it  a  very  official  look,  and  much  impressed 
Bob  when  he  received  it. 

k<  There  !  Go  and  post  it,  and  don't  let  any  one  see 
(v  know  about  it,"  she  said,  handing  it  over  to  Frank, 
\vlio  left  his  work  with  unusual  alacrity  to  do  her 
errand.  When  his  eye  fell  on  the  address,  he  laughed, 
and  said  in  a  teasing  way,  — 

"  Are  you  and  Bob  such  good  friends  that  you  cor 
respond  ?  What  will  Jack  say  ?  " 

"Don't  know,  and  don't  care  !  Be  good,  now,  and 
let 's  have  a  little  secret  as  well  as  other  folks.  I  '11 
tell  you  all  about  it  when  he  answers,"  said  Jill  in  her 
most  coaxing  tone. 

"  Suppose  he  does  n't  ?  " 

"  Then  I  shall  send  you  up  to  see  him.  I  must  know 
something,  and  I  want  to  do  it  myself,  if  I  can." 

"  Look  here  ;  what  are  you  after  ?  I  do  believe 
you  think  "  -  Frank  got  no  farther,  for  Jill  gave  a 
little  scream,  and  stopped  him  by  crying  eagerly, 
"  Don't  say  it  out  loud  !  I  really  do  believe  it  may  be, 
and  I  'm  going  to  find  out." 

"  What  made  you  think  of  him?  "  and  Frank  looked 
thoughtfully  at  the  letter,  as  if  turning  carefully  over 
in  his  mind  the  idea  that  Jill's  quick  wits  had  jumped 
at. 

"  Come  here  and  I  '11  tell  you." 

Holding  him  by  one  button,  she  whispered  some 
thing  in  his  ear  that  made  him  exclaim,  with  a  look  at 
the  rug,  — 

"  No !  did  he  ?  I  declare  I  should  n't  wonder !  It 
would  be  just  like  the  dear  old  blunder-head." 

"  I  never  thought  of  it  till  you  told  me  where  Bob 
was,  and  then  it  all  sort  of  burst  upon  me  in  one  min- 


172  JACK  AND  JILL. 

ute !  "  cried  Jill,  waving  her  arms  about  to  express  the 
intellectual  explosion  which  had  thrown  light  upon 
the  mystery,  like  sky-rockets  in  a  dark  night. 

"  You  are  as  bright  as  a  button.  No  time  to  lose  ; 
I  'm  off ; "  and  off  he  was,  splashing  through  the  mud 
to  post  the  letter,  on  the  back  of  which  he  added,  to 
make  the  thing  sure,  "  Hurry  up.  F.  M." 

Both  felt  rather  guilty  next  day,  but  enjoyed  them 
selves  very  much  nevertheless,  and  kept  chuckling 
over  the  mine  they  were  making  under  Jack's  uncon 
scious  feet.  They  hardly  expected  an  answer  at  noon, 
as  the  Hill  people  were  not  very  eager  for  their  mail, 
but  at  night  Jill  was  sure  of  a  letter,  and  to  her  great 
delight  it  came.  Jack  brought  it  himself,  which  added 
to  the  fun,  and  while  she  eagerly  read  it  he  sat  calmly 
poring  over  the  latest  number  of  his  own  private  and 
particular  "Youth's  Companion." 

Bob  was  not  a  "  complete  letter-writer "  by  any 
means,  and  with  great  labor  and  much  ink  had  pro 
duced  the  following  brief  but  highly  satisfactory  epis 
tle.  Not  knowing  how  to  address  his  fair  correspondent 
he  let  it  alone,  and  went  at  once  to  the  point  in  the 
frankest  possible  way  :  — 

"  Jack  did  come  up  Friday.  Sorry  he  got  into  a  mess.  It  was 
real  kind  of  him,  and  I  shall  pay  him  back  soon.  Jack  paid 
Jerry  for  me  and  I  made  him  promise  not  to  tell.  Jerry  said 
he  'd  come  here  and  make  a  row  if  I  did  n't  cash  up.  I  was  afraid 
I  'd  lose  the  place  if  he  did,  for  the  Capt.  is  awful  strict.  If  Jack 
don't  tell  now,  I  will.  I  ain't  mean.  Glad  you  wrote. 

"  R.  O.  W." 

"  Hurrah  ! "  cried  Jill,  waving  the  letter  over  her 
head  in  great  triumph.  "  Call  everybody  and  read  it 


AND  JILL  FINDS  IT  OUT.  173 

out,"  she  added,  as  Frank  snatched  it,  and  ran  for  his 
mother,  seeing  at  a  glance  that  the  news  was  good. 
Jill  was  so  afraid  she  should  tell  before  the  others  came 
that  she  burst  out  singing  "  Pretty  Bobby  Shafto  "  at 
the  top  of  her  voice,  to  Jack's  great  disgust,  for  he 
considered  the  song  very  personal,  as  he  was  rather 
fond  of  "combing  down  his  yellow  hair,"  and  Jill 
often  plagued  him  by  singing  it  when  he  came  in  with 
the  golden  quirls  very  smooth  and  nice  to  hide  the  scar 
on  his  forehead. 

In  about  five  minutes  the  door  flew  open  and  in 
came  Mamma,  making  straight  for  bewildered  Jack, 
who  thought  the  family  had  gone  crazy  when  his 
parent  caught  him  in  her  arms,  saying  tenderly,  — 

"  My  good,  generous  boy  !  I  knew  he  was  right  all 
the  time ! "  while  Frank  worked  his  hand  up  and  down 
like  a  pump-handle,  exclaiming  heartily,  — 

"  You  're  a  trump,  sir,  and  I  'm  proud  of  you ! " 
Jill  meantime  calling  out,  in  wild  delight,  — 

"  I  told  you  so  !  I  told  you  so  !  I  did  find  out ;  ha, 
ha,  I  did  ! " 

"  Come,  I  say !  What 's  the  matter  ?  I  'm  all  right. 
Don't  squeeze  the  breath  out  of  me,  please,"  expostu 
lated  Jack,  looking  so  startled  and  innocent,  as  he 
struggled  feebly,  that  they  all  laughed,  and  this  plain 
tive  protest  caused  him  to  be  released.  But  the  next 
proceeding  did1  not  enlighten  him  much,  for  Frank 
kept  waving  a  very  inky  paper  before  him  and  order 
ing  him  to  read  it,  while  Mamma  made  a  charge  at 
Jill,  as  if  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  hug  some 
body. 

"  Hullo ! "  said  Jack,  when  he  got  the  letter  into 
his  own  hand  and  read  it.  "  Now  who  put  Bob  up 


174  JACK  AND  JILL. 

to  this?  Nobody  had  any  business  to  interfere  —  but 
it 's  mighty  good  of  him,  anyway,"  he  added,  as  the 
anxious  lines  in  his  round  face  smoothed  themselves 
away,  while  a  smile  of  relief  told  how  hard  it  had 
been  for  him  to  keep  his  word. 

"I  did  !  "  cried  Jill,  clapping  her  hands,  and  looking 
so  happy  that  he  could  not  have  scolded  her  if  he  had 
wanted  to. 

"  Who  told  you  he  was  in  the  scrape  ?  "  demanded 
Jack,  in  a  hurry  to  know  all  about  it  now  the  seal  was 
taken  off  his  own  lips. 

"  You  did ; "  and  Jill's  face  twinkled  with  naughty 
satisfaction,  for  this  was  the  best  fun  of  all. 

"  I  did  n't !     When  ?     Where  ?     It 's  a  joke  ! " 

"  You  did,"  cried  Jill,  pointing  to  the  rug.  "  You 
went  to  sleep  there  after  the  long  walk,  and  talked  in 
your  sleep  about  '  Bob '  and  *  All  right,  old  boy,'  and 
ever  so  much  gibberish.  I  did  n't  think  about  it  then, 
but  when  I  heard  that  Bob  was  up  there  I  thought 
may  be  he  knew  something  about  it,  and  last  night  I 
wrote  and  asked  him,  and  that 's  the  answer,  and  now 
it  is  all  right,  and  you  are  the  best  boy  that  ever  was, 
and  I  'm  so  glad  !  " 

Here  Jill  reused,  all  out  of  breath,  and  Frank  said, 
with  an  approving  pat  on  the  head,  — 

"  It  won't  do  to  have  such  a  sharp  young  person 
round  if  we  are  going  to  have  secrets.  You  'd  make 
a  good  detective,  miss." 

"Catch  me  taking  naps  before  people  again;"  and 
Jack  looked  rather  crestfallen  that  his  own  words  had 
set  "  Fine  Ear  "  on  the  track.  "  Never  mind,  I  did  n't 
mean  to  tell,  though  I  just  ached  to  do  it  all  the 
time,  so  I  have  n't  broken  my  word.  I  'm  glad  you 


AND  JILL  FINDS  IT  OUT.  175 

all  know,  but  you  need  n't  let  it  get  out,  for  Bob  is  a 
good  fellow,  and  it  might  make  trouble  for  him,"  added 
Jack,  anxious  lest  his  gain  should  be  the  other's  loss. 

"  I  shall  tell  Mr.  Acton  myself,  and  the  Captain, 
also,  for  I  'm  not  going  to  have  my  son  suspected  of 
wrong-doing  when  he  has  only  tried  to  help  a  friend, 
and  borne  enough  for  his  sake,"  said  Mamma,  much 
excited  by  this  discovery  of  generous  fidelity  in  her 
boy ;  though  when  one  came  to  look  at  it  calmly,  one 
saw  that  it  might  have  been  done  in  a  wiser  way. 

"Now,  please,  don't  make  a  fuss  about  it;  that 
would  be  most  as  bad  as  having  every  one  down  on 
me.  I  can  stand  your  praising  me,  but  I  won't  be  patted 
on  the  head  by  anybody  else ; "  and  Jack  assumed  a 
manly  air,  though  his  face  was  full  of  genuine  boyish 
pleasure  at  being  set  right  in  the  eyes  of  those  he 
loved. 

"  I  '11  be  discreet,  dear,  but  you  owe  it  to  yourself, 
as  well  as  Bob,  to  have  the  truth  known.  Both  have 
behaved  well,  and  no  harm  will  come  to  him,  I  am 
sure.  I  '11  see  to  that  myself,"  said  Mrs.  Minot,  in  a 
tone  that  set  Jack's  mind  at  rest  on  that  point. 

"  Now  do  tell  all  about  it,"  cried  Jill,  who  was  pin 
ing  to  know  the  whole  story,  and  felt  is  if  she  had 
earned  the  right  to  hear  it. 

"  Oh,  it  was  n't  much.  We  promised  Ed  to  stand 
by  Bob,  so  I  did  as  well  as  I  knew  how ; "  and  Jack 
seemed  to  think  that  was  about  all  there  was  to  say. 

"  I  never  saw  such  a  fellow  for  keeping  a  promise  ! 
You  stick  to  it  through  thick  and  thin,  no  matter  how 
silly  or  hard  it  is.  You  remember,  mother,  last  sum 
mer,  how  you  told  him  not  to  go  in  a  boat  and  he 
promised,  the  day  we  went  on  the  picnic.  We  rode 


1T6  JACK  AND  JILL. 

up,  but  the  horse  ran  off  home,  so  we  had  to  come  back 
by  way  of  the  river,  all  but  Jack,  and  he  walked  every 
step  of  five  miles  because  he  would  n't  go  near  a  boat, 
though  Mr.  Burton  was  there  to  take  care  of  him.  I 
call  that  rather  overdoing  the  matter;"  and  Frank 
looked  as  if  he  thought  moderation  even  in  virtue  a 
good  thing. 

"And  I  call  it  a  fine  sample  of  entire  obedience. 
He  obeyed  orders,  and  that  is  what  we  all  must  do, 
without  always  seeing  why,  or  daring  to  use  our  own 
judgment.  It  is  a  great  safeguard  to  Jack,  and  a  very 
great  comfort  to  me ;  for  I  know  that  if  he  promises 
he  will  keep  his  word,  no  matter  what  it  costs  him," 
said  Mamma  warmly,  as  she  tumbled  up  the  quirls 
with  an  irrepressible  caress,  remembering  how  the  boy 
came  wearily  in  after  all  the  others,  without  seeming 
for  a  moment  to  think  that  he  could  have  done  any 
thing  else. 

"  Like  Casabianca !  "  cried  Jill,  much  impressed,  for 
obedience  was  her  hardest  trial. 

"  I  think  he  was  a  fool  to  burn  up,"  said  Frank, 
bound  not  to  give  in. 

"  I  don't.  It 's  a  splendid  piece,  and  every  one  likes 
to  speak  it,  and  it  was  true,  and  it  would  n't  be  in  all 
the  books  if  he  was  a  fool.  Grown  people  know  what 
is  good,"  declared  Jill,  who  liked  heroic  actions,  and 
was  always  hoping  for  a  chance  to  distinguish  herself 
in  that  way. 

"  You  admire  4  The  Charge  of  the  Light  Brigade,' 
and  glow  all  over  as  you  thunder  it  out.  Yet  they 
went  gallantly  to  their  death  rather  than  disobey 
orders.  A  mistake,  perhaps,  but  it  makes  us  thrill  to 
hear  of  it ;  and  the  same  spirit  keeps  my  Jack  true  as 


AND  JILL  FINDS  IT  OUT.  177 

steel  when  once  his  word  is  passed,  or  he  thinks  it  is 
his  duty.  Don't  be  laughed  out  of  it,  my  son,  for 
faithfulness  in  little  things  fits  one  for  heroism  when 
the  great  trials  come.  One's  conscience  can  hardly  be 
too  tender  when  honor  and  honesty  are  concerned." 

"  You  are  right,  mother,  and  I  am  wrong.  I  beg 
your  pardon,  Jack,  and  you  sha'n't  get  ahead  of  me 
next  time." 

Frank  made  his  mother  a  little  bow,  gave  his  brother 
a  shake  of  the  hand,  and  nodded  to  Jill,  as  if  anxious 
to  show  that  he  was  not  too  proud  to  own  up  when  he 
made  a  mistake. 

"  Please  tell  on,  Jack.  This  is  very  nice,  but  I  do 
want  to  know  all  about  the  other,"  said  Jill,  after  a 
short  pause. 

"  Let  me  see.  Oh,  I  saw  Bob  at  church,  and  he 
looked  rather  blue ;  so,  after  Sunday  School,  I  asked 
what  the  matter  was.  He  said  Jerry  bothered  him  for 
some  money  he  lent  him  at  different  times  when  they 
were  loafing  round  together,  before  we  took  him  up. 
He  would  n't  get  any  wages  for  some  time.  The  Cap 
tain  keeps  him  short  on  purpose,  I  guess,  and  won't  let 
him  come  down  town  except  on  Sundays.  He  did  n't 
want  any  one  to  know  about  it,  for  fear  he  'd  lose  his 
place.  So  I  promised  I  would  n't  tell.  Then  I  was 
afraid  Jerry  would  go  and  make  a  fuss,  and  Bob  would 
run  off,  or  do  something  desperate,  being  worried,  and 
I  said  I  'd  pay  it  for  him,  if  I  could.  So  he  went 
home  pretty  jolly,  and  I  scratched  'round  for  the 
money.  Got  it,  too,  and  was  n't  I  glad  ?  " 

Jack  paused  to  rub  his  hands,  and  Frank  said,  with 
more  than  usual  respect,  — 

"  Could  n't  you  get  hold  of  Jerry  in  any  other 
12 


178  JACK  AND  JILL. 

place,  and  out  of  school  time  ?  That  did  the  mischief, 
thanks  to  Joe.  I  thrashed  him,  Jill,  —  did  I  mention 
it?" 

"  I  could  n't  get  all  my  money  till  Friday  morning, 
and  I  knew  Jerry  was  off  at  night.  I  looked  for  him 
before  school,  and  at  noon,  but  could  n't  find  him,  so 
afternoon  recess  was  my  last  chance.  I  was  bound  to  do 
it,  and  I  did  n't  mean  to  break  the  rule,  but  Jerry  was 
just  going  into  the  shop,  so  I  pelted  after  him,  and  as 
it  was  private  business  we  went  to  the  billiard-room. 
I  declare  I  never  was  so  relieved  as  when  I  handed 
over  that  money,  and  made  him  say  it  was  all  right, 
and  he  would  n't  go  near  Bob.  He 's  off,  so  my  mind 
is  easy,  and  Bob  will  be  so  grateful  I  can  keep  him 
steady,  perhaps.  That  will  be  worth  two  seventy-five, 
I  think,"  said  Jack  heartily. 

"  You  should  have  come  to  me,"  began  Frank. 

"And  got  laughed  at,  —  no,  thank  you,"  interrupted 
Jack,  recollecting  several  philanthropic  little  enter 
prises  which  were  nipped  in  the  bud  for  want  of 
co-operation. 

"  To  me,  then,"  said  his  mother.  "  It  would  have 
saved  so  much  trouble." 

"  I  thought  of  it,  but  Bob  did  n't  want  the  big  fel 
lows  to  know  for  fear  they  'd  be  down  on  him,  so  I 
thought  he  might  not  like  me  to  tell  grown  people. 
I  don't  mind  the  fuss  now,  and  Bob  is  as  kind  as  he 
can  be.  Wanted  to  give  me  his  big  knife,  but  I 
would  n't  take  it.  I  'd  rather  have  this,"  and  Jack 
put  the  letter  in  his  pocket  with  a  slap  outside,  as  if 
it  warmed  the  cockles  of  his  heart  to  have  it  there. 

"  Well,  it  seems  rather  like  a  tempest  in  a  teapot, 
now  it  is  all  over,  but  I  do  admire  your  pluck,  little 


AND  JILL  FINDS  IT  OUT.  179 

• 

boy,  in  holding  out  so  well  when  every  one  was  scold 
ing  at  you,  and  you  in  the  right  all  the  time,"  said 
Frank,  glad  to  praise,  now  that  he  honestly  could, 
after  his  wholesale  condemnation. 

"  That  is  what  pulled  me  through,  I  suppose.  I 
used  to  think  if  I  had  done  anything  wrong,  that  I 
could  n't  stand  the  snubbing  a  day.  I  should  have 
told  right  off,  and  had  it  over.  Now,  I  guess  I  '11  have 
a  good  report  if  you  do  tell  Mr.  Acton,"  said  Jack, 
looking  at  his  mother  so  wistfully,  that  she  resolved  to 
slip  away  that  very  evening,  and  make  sure  that  the 
thing  was  done. 

"  That  will  make  you  happier  than  anything  else, 
won't  it?"  asked  Jill,  eager  to  have  him  rewarded 
after  his  trials. 

"  There 's  one  thing  I  like  better,  though  I  'd  be  very 
sorry  to  lose  my  report.  It 's  the  fun  of  telling  Ed 
I  tried  to  do  as  he  wanted  us  to,  and  seeing  how 
pleased  he  '11  be,"  added  Jack,  rather  bashfully,  for 
the  boys  laughed  at  him  sometimes  for  his  love  of 
this  friend. 

"  I  know  he  won't  be  any  happier  about  it  than  some 
one  else,  who  stood  by  you  all  through,  and  set  her 
bright  wits  to  work  till  the  trouble  was  all  cleared 
away,"  said  Mrs.  Minot,  looking  at  Jill's  contented 
face,  as  she  lay  smiling  on  them  all. 

Jack  understood,  and,  hopping  across  the  room,  gave 
both  the  thin  hands  a  hearty  shake ;  then,  not  finding 
any  words  quite  cordial  enough  in  which  to  thank  this 
faithful  little  sister,  he  stooped  down  and  kissed  her 
gratefully. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SAINT    LUCY. 

SATURDAY  was  a  busy  and  a  happy  time  to  Jack, 
for  in  the  morning  Mr.  Acton  came  to  see  him, 
having  heard  the  story  overnight,  and  promised  to 
keep  Bob's  secret  while  giving  Jack  an  acquittal  as 
public  as  the  reprimand  had  been.  Then  he  asked  for 
the  report  which  Jack  had  bravely  received  the  day 
before  and  put  away  without  showing  to  anybody. 

"  There  is  one  mistake  here  which  we  must  rectify," 
said  Mr.  Acton,  as  he  crossed  out  the  low  figures 
under  the  word  "Behavior,"  and  put  the  much-de 
sired  100  there. 

"  But  I  did  break  the  rule,  sir,"  said  Jack,  though 
his  face  glowed  with  pleasure,  for  Mamma  was  look 
ing  on. 

"  I  overlook  that  as  I  should  your  breaking  into  my 
house  if  you  saw  it  was  on  fire.  You  ran  to  save  a 
friend,  and  I  wish  I  could  tell  those  fellows  why  you 
were  there.  It  would  do  them  good.  I  am  not  going 
to  praise  you,  John,  but  I  did  believe  you  in  spite  of 
appearances,  and  I  am  glad  to  have  for  a  pupil  a  boy 
who  loves  his  neighbor  better  than  himself." 


SAINT  LUCY.  181 

Then,  having  shaken  hands  heartily,  Mr.  Acton 
went  away,  and  Jack  flew  off  to  have  rejoicings 
with  Jill,  who  sat  up  on  her  sofa,  without  knowing 
it,  so  eager  was  she  to  hear  all  about  the  call. 

In  the  afternoon  Jack  drove  his  mother  to  the 
Captain's,  confiding  to  her  on  the  way  what  a  hard 
time  he  had  when  he  went  before,  and  how  nothing 
but  the  thought  of  cheering  Bob  kept  him  up  when  he 
slipped  and  hurt  his  knee,  and  his  boot  sprung  a  leak, 
and  the  wind  came  up  very  cold,  and  the  hill  seemed 
an  endless  mountain  of  mud  and  snow. 

Mrs.  Minot  had  such  a  gentle  way  of  putting  things 
that  she  would  have  won  over  a  much  harder  man  than 
the  strict  old  Captain,  who  heard  the  story  with  inter 
est,  and  was  much  pleased  with  the  boys'  efforts  to 
keep  Bob  straight.  That  young  person  dodged  away 
into  the  barn  with  Jack,  and  only  appeared  at  the  last 
minute  to  shove  a  bag  of  chestnuts  into  the  chaise. 
But  he  got  a  few  kind  words  that  did  him  good,  from 
Mrs.  Minot  and  the  Captain,  and  from  that  day  felt 
himself  under  bonds  to  behave  well  if  he  would  keep 
their  confidence. 

"  I  shall  give  Jill  the  nuts  ;  and  I  wish  I  had  some 
thing  she  wanted  very,  very  much,  for  I  do  think  she 
ought  to  be  rewarded  for  getting  me  out  of  the  mess," 
said  Jack,  as  they  drove  happily  home  again. 

"  I  hope  to  have  something  in  a  day  or  two  that  will 
delight  her  very  much.  I  will  say  no  more  now,  but 
keep  my  little  secret  and  let  it  be  a  surprise  to  all  by 
and  by,"  answered  his  mother,  looking  as  if  she  had 
not  much  doubt  about  the  matter. 

"  That  will   be  jolly.     You   are  welcome   to  your 


182  JACK  AND  JILL. 

secret,  Mamma.  I've  had  enough  of  them  for  one 
while  ;  "  and  Jack  shrugged  his  broad  shoulders  as  if  a 
burden  had  been  taken  off. 

In  the  evening  Ed  came,  and  Jack  was  quite  satis 
fied  when  he  saw  how  pleased  his  friend  was  at  what 
he  had  done. 

"  I  never  meant  you  should  take  so  much  trouble, 
only  be  kind  to  Bob,"  said  Ed,  who  did  not  know 
how  strong  his  influence  was,  nor  what  a  sweet  exam 
ple  of  quiet  well-doing  his  own  life  was  to  all  his 
mates. 

"I  wished  to  be  really  useful;  not  just  to  talk 
about  it  and  do  nothing.  That  is  n't  your  way,  and 
I  want  to  be  like  you,"  answered  Jack,  with  such 
affectionate  sincerity  that  Ed  could  not  help  believing 
him,  though  he  modestly  declined  the  compliment  by 
saying,  as  he  began  to  play  softly,  "  Better  than  I  am, 
I  hope.  I  don't  amount  to  much." 

"  Yes,  you  do !  and  if  any  one  says  you  don't  I  '11 
shake  him.  I  can't  tell  what  it  is,  only  you  always 
look  so  happy  and  contented  —  sort  of  sweet  and 
shiny,"  said  Jack,  as  he  stroked  the  smooth  brown 
head,  rather  at  a  loss  to  describe  the  unusually  fresh 
and  sunny  expression  of  Ed's  face,  which  was  always 
cheerful,  yet  had  a  certain  thoughtf ulness  that  made  it 
very  attractive  to  both  young  and  old. 

"  Soap  makes  him  shiny  ;  I  never  saw  such  a  fellow 
to  wash  and  brush,"  put  in  Frank,  as  he  came  up  with 
one  of  the  pieces  of  music  he  and  Ed  were  fond  of 
practising  together. 

"  I  don't  mean  that ! "  said  Jack  indignantly.  "  I 
wash  and  brush  till  you  call  me  a  dandy,  but  I  don't 


SAINT  LUCY.  183 

have  the  same  look  —  it  seems  to  come  from  the  in 
side,  somehow,  as  if  he  was  always  jolly  and  clean  and 
good  in  his  mind,  you  know." 

"  Born  so,"  said  Frank,  rumbling  away  in  the  bass 
with  a  pair  of  hands  that  would  have  been  the  bet 
ter  for  some  of  the  above-mentioned  soap,  for  he 
did  not  love  to  do  much  in  the  washing  and  brushing 
line. 

"  I  suppose  that 's  it.  Well,  I  like  it,  and  I  shall 
keep  on  trying,  for  being  loved  by  every  one  is  about 
the  nicest  thing  in  the  world.  Is  n't  it,  Ed  ?  "  asked 
Jack,  with  a  gentle  tweak  of  the  ear  as  he  put 
a  question  which  he  knew  would  get  no  answer, 
for  Ed  was  so  modest  he  could  not  see  wherein  he 
differed  from  other  boys,  nor  believe  that  the  sunshine 
he  saw  in  other  faces  was  only  the  reflection  from  his 
own. 

Sunday  evening  Mrs.  Minot  sat  by  the  fire,  planning 
how  she  should  tell  some  good  news  she  had  been  sav 
ing  up  all  day.  Mrs.  Pecq  knew  it,  and  seemed  so 
delighted  that  she  went  about  smiling  as  if  she  did  not 
know  what  trouble  meant,  and  could  not  do  enough 
for  the  family.  She  was  downstairs  now,  seeing  that 
the  clothes  were  properly  prepared  for  the  wash,  so 
there  was  no  one  in  the  Bird  Room  but  Mamma  and 
the  children.  Frank  was  reading  up  all  he  could  find 
about  some  Biblical  hero  mentioned  in  the  day's  ser 
mon  ;  Jill  lay  where  she  had  lain  for  nearly  four  long 
months,  and  though  her  face  was  pale  and  thin  with 
the  confinement,  there  was  an  expression  on  it  now 
sweeter  even  than  health.  Jack  sat  on  the  rug  beside 
her,  looking  at  a  white  carnation  through  the  magnify- 


184  JACK  AND  JILL. 

ing  glass,  while  she  was  enjoying  the  perfume  of  a  red 
one  as  she  talked  to  him. 

"  If  you  look  at  the  white  petals  you'll  see  that  they 
sparkle  like  marble,  and  go  winding  a  long  way  down 
to  the  middle  of  the  flower  where  it  grows  sort  of  rosy ; 
and  in  among  the  small,  curly  leaves,  like  fringed  cur 
tains,  you  can  see  the  little  green  fairy  sitting  all  alone. 
Your  mother  showed  me  that,  and  I  think  it  is  very 
pretty.  I  call  it  a  c  fairy,'  but  it  is  really  where  the 
seeds  are  hidden  and  the  sweet  smell  comes  from." 

Jill  spoke  softly  lest  she  should  disturb  the  others, 
and,  as  she  turned  to  push  up  her  pillow,  she  saw  Mrs. 
Minot  looking  at  her  with  a  smile  she  did  not  under 
stand. 

"  Did  you  speak,  'm  ? "  she  asked,  smiling  back 
again,  without  in  the  least  knowing  why. 

"  No,  dear.  I  was  listening  and  thinking  what  a 
pretty  little  story  one  could  make  out  of  your  fairy 
living  alone  down  there,  and  only  known  by  her  per 
fume." 

"Tell  it,  Mamma.  It  is  time  for  our  story,  and  that 
would  be  a  nice  one,  I  guess,"  said  Jack,  who  was  as 
fond  of  stories  as  when  he  sat  in  his  mother's  lap  and 
chuckled  over  the  hero  of  the  bean-stalk. 

"We  don't  have  fairy  tales  on  Sunday,  you  know," 
began  Jill  regretfully. 

"  Call  it  a  parable,  and  have  a  moral  to  it,  then  it 
will  be  all  right,"  put  in  Frank,  as  he  shut  his  big 
book,  having  found  what  he  wanted. 

"  I  like  stories  about  saints,  and  the  good  and  won 
derful  things  they  did,"  said  Jill,  who  enjoyed  the 
wise  and  interesting  bits  Mrs.  Minot  often  found  for 


SAINT  LUCY.  185 

her  in  grown-up  books,  for  Jill  had  thoughtful  times, 
and  asked  questions  which  showed  that  she  was  grow 
ing  fast  in  mind  if  not  in  body. 

l(  This  is  a  true  story;  but  I  will  disguise  it  a  little, 
and  call  it  '  The  Miracle  of  St.  Lucy,'  "  began  Mrs. 
Minot,  seeing  a  way  to  tell  her  good  news  and  amuse 
the  children  likewise. 

Frank  retired  to  the  easy-chair,  that  he  might  sleep 
if  the  tale  should  prove  too  childish  for  him.  Jill  set 
tled  herself  among  her  cushions,  and  Jack  lay  flat  upon 
the  rug,  with  his  feet  up,  so  that  he  could  admire  his 
red  slippers  and  rest  his  knee,  which  ached. 

"  Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  queen  who  had  two 
princes  " — 

"  Was  n't  there  a  princess  ?  "  asked  Jack,  interested 
at  once. 

"  No ;  and  it  was  a  great  sorrow  to  the  queen  that 
she  had  no  little  daughter,  for  the  sons  were  growing 
up,  and  she  was  often  very  lonely." 

"  Like  Snowdrop's  mother,"  whispered  Jill. 

"Now,  don't  keep  interrupting,  children,  or  we 
never  shall  get  on,"  said  Frank,  more  anxious  to  hear 
about  the  boys  that  were  than  the  girl  that  was  not. 

"  One  day,  when  the  princes  were  out,  —  ahem ! 
we'll  say  hunting,  —  they  found  a  little  damsel  lying 
on  the  snow,  half  dead  with  cold,  they  thought.  She 
was  the  child  of  a  poor  woman  who  lived  in  the  for 
est,  —  a  wild  little  thing,  always  dancing  and  singing 
about ;  as  hard  to  catch  as  a  squirrel,  and  so  fearless 
she  would  climb  the  highest  trees,  leap  broad  brooks,  or 
jump  off  the  steep  rocks  to  show  her  courage.  The 
boys  carried  her  home  to  the  palace,  and  the  queen  was 


186  JACK  AND  JILL. 

glad  to  have  her.  She  had  fallen  and  hurt  herself,  so 
she  lay  in  bed  week  after  week,  with  her  mother  to 
take  care  of  her" — 

"  That 's  you,"  whispered  Jack,  throwing  the  white 
carnation  at  Jill,  and  she  threw  back  the  red  one,  with 
her  finger  on  her  lips,  for  the  tale  was  very  interesting 
now. 

"  She  did  not  suffer  much  after  a  time,  but  she 
scolded  and  cried,  and  could  not  be  resigned,  because 
she  was  a  prisoner.  The  queen  tried  to  help  her,  but 
she  could  not  do  much ;  the  princes  were  kind,  but 
they  had  their  books  and  plays,  and  were  away  a  good 
deal.  Some  friends  she  had  came  often  to  see  her,  but 
still  she  beat  her  wings  against  the  bars,  like  a  wild 
bird  in  a  cage,  and  soon  her  spirits  were  all  gone,  and 
it  was  sad  to  see  her." 

"  Where  was  your  St.  Lucy  ?  I  thought  it  was  about 
her,"  asked  Jack,  who  did  not  like  to  have  Jill's  past 
troubles  dwelt  upon,  since  his  were  not. 

"  She  is  coming.  Saints  are  not  born  —  they  are 
made  after  many  trials  and  tribulations,"  answered  his 
mother,  looking  at  the  fire  as  if  it  helped  her  to  spin 
her  little  story.  "Well,  the  poor  child  used  to  sing 
sometimes  to  while  away  the  long  hours  —  sad  songs 
mostly,  and  one  among  them  which  the  queen  taught 
her  was  '  Sweet  Patience,  Come.' 

"This  she  used  to  sing  a  great  deal  after  a  while, 
never  dreaming  that  Patience  was  an  angel  who  could 
hear  and  obey.  But  it  was  so ;  and  one  night,  when 
the  girl  had  lulled  herself  to  sleep  with  that  song,  the 
angel  came.  Nobody  saw  the  lovely  spirit  with  tender 
eyes,  and  a  voice  that  was  like  balm.  No  one  heard 


SAINT  LUCY.  187 

the  rustle  of  wings  as  she  hovered  over  the  little  bed 
and  touched  the  lips,  the  eyes,  the  hands  of  the  sleeper, 
and  then  flew  away,  leaving  three  gifts  behind.  The 
girl  did  not  know  why,  but  after  that  night  the  songs 
grew  gayer,  there  seemed  to  be  more  sunshine  every 
where  her  eyes  looked,  and  her  hands  were  never  tired 
of  helping  others  in  various  pretty,  useful,  or  pleasant 
ways.  Slowly  the  wild  bird  ceased  to  beat  against  the 
bars,  but  sat  in  its  cage  and  made  music  for  all  in  the 
palace,  till  the  queen  could  not  do  without  it,  the  poor 
mother  cheered  up,  and  the  princes  called  the  girl  their 
nightingale." 

"Was  that  the  miracle?"  asked  Jack,  forgetting  all 
about  his  slippers,  as  he  watched  Jill's  eyes  brighten 
and  the  color  come  up  in  her  white  cheeks. 

"  That  was  the  miracle,  and  Patience  can  work  far 
greater  ones  if  you  will  let  her." 

"And  the  girl's  name  was  Lucy?  " 

"  Yes ;  they  did  not  call  her  a  saint  then,  but  she 
was  trying  to  be  as  cheerful  as  a  certain  good  woman 
she  had  heard  of,  and  so  the  queen  had  that  name  for 
her,  though  she  did  not  let  her  know  it  for  a  long 
time." 

"  That 's  not  bad  for  a  Sunday  story,  but  there  might 
have  been  more  about  the  princes,  seems  to  me,"  was 
Frank's  criticism,  as  Jill  lay  very  still,  trying  to  hide 
her  face  behind  the  carnation,  for  she  had  no  words  to 
tell  how  touched  and  pleased  she  was  to  find  that  her 
little  efforts  to  be  good  had  been  seen,  remembered, 
and  now  rewarded  in  this  way. 

"  There  is  more." 

"  Then  the  story  is  n't  done  ?  "  cried  Jack. 


188  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  Oh  dear,  no ;  the  most  interesting  things  are  to 
come,  if  you  can  wait  for  them." 

"  Yes,  I  see,  this  is  the  moral  part.  Now  keep  still, 
and  let  us  have  the  rest,"  commanded  Frank,  while  the 
others  composed  themselves  for  the  sequel,  suspecting 
that  it  was  rather  nice,  because  Mamma's  sober  face 
changed,  and  her  eyes  laughed  as  they  looked  at  the 
fire. 

"  The  elder  prince  was  very  fond  of  driving  dragons, 
for  the  people  of  that  country  used  these  fiery  monsters 
as  horses." 

"  And  got  run  away  with,  did  n't  he  ?  "  laughed 
Jack,  adding,  with  great  interest,  "  What  did  the 
other  fellow  do?" 

"  He  went  about  fighting  other  people's  battles,  help 
ing  the  poor,  and  trying  to  do  good.  But  he  lacked 
judgment,  so  he  often  got  into  trouble,  and  was  in  such 
a  hurry  that  he  did  not  always  stop  to  find  out  the 
wisest  way.  As  when  he  gave  away  his  best  coat  to  a 
beggar  boy,  instead  of  the  old  one  which  he  intended 
to  give." 

"  I  say,  that  is  n't  fair,  mother !  Neither  of  them 
was  new,  and  the  boy  needed  the  best  more  than  I  did, 
and  I  wore  the  old  one  all  winter,  did  n't  I?"  asked 
Jack,  who  had  rather  exulted  over  Frank,  and  was  now 
taken  down  himself. 

"  Yes,  you  did,  my  dear ;  and  it  was  not  an  easy 
thing  for  my  dandiprat  to  do.  Now  listen,  and  I  '11 
tell  you  how  they  both  learned  to  be  wiser.  The  elder 
prince  soon  found  that  the  big  dragons  were  too  much 
for  him,  and  set  about  training  his  own  little  one,  who 
now  and  then  ran  away  with  him.  Its  name  was  Will, 


SAINT  LUCY.  189 

a  good  servant,  but  a  bad  master;  so  he  learned  to 
control  it,  and  in  time  this  gave  him  great  power  over 
himself,  and  fitted  him  to  be  a  king  over  others." 

"  Thank  you,  mother ;  I  '11  remember  my  part  of  the 
moral.  Now  give  Jack  his,"  said  Frank,  who  liked  the 
dragon  episode,  as  he  had  been  wrestling  with  his  own 
of  late,  and  found  it  hard  to  manage. 

"  He  had  a  fine  example  before  him  in  a  friend,  and 
he  followed  it  more  reasonably  till  he  grew  able  to  use 
wisely  one  of  the  best  and  noblest  gifts  of  God, — 
benevolence." 

"  Now  tell  about  the  girl.  Was  there  more  to  that 
part  of  the  story  ?  "  asked  Jack,  well  pleased  with  his 
moral,  as  it  took  Ed  in  likewise. 

"  That  is  the  best  of  all,  but  it  seems  as  if  I  never 
Bhould  get  to  it.  After  Patience  made  Lucy  sweet 
and  cheerful,  she  began  to  have  a  curious  power  over 
those  about  her,  and  to  work  little  miracles  herself, 
though  she  did  not  know  it.  The  queen  learned  to 
love  her  so  dearly  she  could  not  let  her  go  ;  she  cheered 
up  all  her  friends  when  they  came  with  their  small 
troubles ;  the  princes  found  bright  eyes,  willing  hands, 
and  a  kind  heart  always  at  their  service,  and  felt, 
without  quite  knowing  why,  that  it  was  good  for  them 
to  have  a  gentle  little  creature  to  care  for ;  so  they 
softened  their  rough  manners,  loud  voices,  and  careless 
ways,  for  her  sake,  and  when  it  was  proposed  to  take 
her  away  to  her  own  home  they  could  not  give  her  up, 
but  said  she  must  stay  longer,  did  n't  they  ?  " 

"  I  M  like  to  see  them  saying  anything  else,"  said 
Frank,  while  Jack  sat  up  to  demand  fiercely,  — 

"  Who  talks  about  taking  Jill  away  ?  " 


190  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"Lucy's  mother  thought  she  ought  to  go,  and  said 
so,  but  the  queen  told  her  how  much  good  it  did  them 
all  to  have  her  there,  and  begged  the  dear  woman  to 
let  her  little  cottage  and  come  and  be  housekeeper  in 
the  palace,  for  the  queen  was  getting  lazy,  and  liked  to 
sit  and  read,  and  talk  and  sew  with  Lucy,  better  than 
to  look  after  things." 

"And  she  said  she  would?"  cried  Jill,  clasping  her 
hands  in  her  anxiety,  for  she  had  learned  to  love  her 
cage  now. 

"  Yes."  Mrs.  Minot  had  no  time  to  say  more,  for 
one  of  the  red  slippers  flew  up  in  the  air,  and  Jack  had 
to  clap  both  hands  over  his  mouth  to  suppress  the 
"  hurrah  !  "  that  nearly  escaped.  Frank  said,  "  That 's 
good  ! "  and  nodded  with  his  most  cordial  smile  at  Jill 
who  pulled  herself  up  with  cheeks  now  as  rosy  as  the 
red  carnation,  and  a  little  catch  in  her  breath  as  she 
said  to  herself,  — 

"  It  's  too  lovely  to  be  true." 

"  That 's  a  first-rate  end  to  a  very  good  story,"  began 
Jack,  with  grave  decision,  as  he  put  on  his  slipper  and 
sat  up  to  pat  Jill's  hand,  wishing  it  was  not  quite  so 
like  a  little  claw. 

"That 's  not  the  end  ;"  and  Mamma's  eyes  laughed 
more  than  ever  as  three  astonished  faces  turned  to  her, 
and  three  voices  cried  out,  — 

"Still  more?" 

"  The  very  best  of  all.  You  must  know  that,  while 
Lucy  was  busy  for  others,  she  was  not  forgotten,  and 
when  she  was  expecting  to  lie  on  her  bed  through  the 
summer,  plans  were  being  made  for  all  sorts  of  pleasant 
changes.  First  of  all,  she  was  to  have  a  nice  little  brace 


SAINT  LUCY.  191 

to  support  the  back  which  was  growing  better  every 
day ;  then,  as  the  warm  weather  came  on,  she  was  to 
go  out,  or  lie  on  the  piazza ;  and  by  and  by,  when 
school  was  done,  she  was  to  go  with  the  queen  and  the 
princes  for  a  month  or  two  down  to  the  sea-side,  where 
fresh  air  and  salt  water  were  to  build  her  up  in  the 
most  delightful  way.  There,  now !  is  n't  that  the  best 
ending  of  all  ?  "  and  Mamma  paused  to  read  her  answer 
in  the  bright  faces  of  two  of  the  listeners,  for  Jill  hid 
hers  in  the  pillow,  and  lay  quite  still,  as  if  it  was  too 
much  for  her. 

"  That  will  be  regularly  splendid !  I  '11  row  you  all 
about  —  boating  is  so  much  easier  than  riding,  and  I 
like  it  on  salt  water,"  said  Frank,  going  to  sit  on  the 
arm  of  the  sofa,  quite  excited  by  the  charms  of  the 
new  plan. 

"  And  I  '11  teach  you  to  swim,  and  roll  you  over  the 
beach,  arid  get  sea-weed  and  shells,  and  no  end  of  nice 
things,  and  we  '11  all  come  home  as  strong  as  lions," 
added  Jack,  scrambling  up  as  if  about  to  set  off  at 
once. 

"  The  doctor  says  you  have  been  doing  finely  of  late, 
and  the  brace  will  come  to-morrow,  and  the  first  really 
mild  day  you  are  to  have  a  breath  of  fresh  air.  Won't 
that  be  good  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Minot,  hoping  her  story 
had  not  been  too  interesting. 

"Is  she  crying?"  said  Jack,  much  concerned  as  he 
patted  the  pillow  in  his  most  soothing  way,  while 
Frank  lifted  one  curl  after  another  to  see  what  was 
hidden  underneath. 

Not  tears,  for  two  eyes  sparkled  behind  the  fingers, 
then  the  hands  came  down  like  clouds  from  before  the 


192  JACK  AND  JILL. 

sun,  and  Jill's  face  shone  out  so  bright  and  happy  it 
did  one's  heart  good  to  see  it. 

"  I  'm  not  crying,"  she  said  with  a  laugh  which  was 
fuller  of  blithe  music  than  any  song  she  sung.  "  But 
it  was  so  splendid,  it  sort  of  took  my  breath  away  for 
a  minute.  I  thought  I  was  n't  any  better,  and  never 
should  be,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  I  would  n't  ask,  it 
would  be  so  hard  for  any  one  to  tell  me  so.  Now  I 
see  why  the  doctor  made  me  stand  up,  and  told  me  to 
get  my  baskets  ready  to  go  a-Maying.  I  thought  he 
was  in  fun  ;  did  he  really  mean  I  could  go  ?  "  asked  Jill, 
expecting  too  much,  for  a  word  of  encouragement  made 
her  as  hopeful  as  she  had  been  despondent  before. 

"  No,  dear,  not  so  soon  as  that.  It  will  be  months, 
probably,  before  you  can  walk  and  run,  as  you  used  to ; 
but  they  will  soon  pass.  You  need  n't  mind  about 
May-day ;  it  is  always  too  cold  for  flowers,  and  you 
will  find  more  here  among  your  own  plants,  than  on 
the  hills,  to  fill  your  baskets,"  answered  Mrs.  Minot, 
hastening  to  suggest  something  pleasant  to  beguile  the 
time  of  probation. 

"  I  can  wait.  Months  are  not  years,  and  if  I  'm 
truly  getting  well,  everything  will  seem  beautiful  and 
easy  to  me,"  said  Jill,  laying  herself  down  again,  with 
the  patient  look  she  had  learned  to  wear,  and  gather 
ing  up  the  scattered  carnations  to  enjoy  their  spicy 
breath,  as  if  the  fairies  hidden  there  had  taught  her 
some  of  their  sweet  secrets. 

"  Dear  little  girl,  it  has  been  a  long,  hard  trial  for 
you,  but  it  is  coming  to  an  end,  and  I  think  you  will 
find  that  it  has  not  been  time  wasted.  I  don't  want 
you  to  be  a  saint  quite  yet,  but  I  am  sure  a  gentler  Jill 


SAINT  LUCY.  193 

will  rise  up  from  that  sofa  than  the  one  who  lay  down 
there  in  December." 

"  How  could  I  help  growing  better,  when  you  were 
so  good  to  me  ?  "  cried  Jill,  putting  up  both  arms,  as 
Mrs.  Minot  went  to  take  Frank's  place,  and  he  retired 
to  the  fire,  there  to  stand  surveying  the  scene  with 
calm  approval. 

"You  have  done  quite  as  much  for  us;  so  we  are 
even.  I  proved  that  to  your  mother,  and  she  is  going 
to  let  the  little  house  and  take  care  of  the  big  one  for 
me,  while  I  borrow  you  to  keep  me  happy  and  make 
the  boys  gentle  and  kind.  That  is  the  bargain, 
and  we  get  the  best  of  it,"  said  Mrs.  Minot,  looking 
well  pleased,  while  Jack  added,  "  That 's  so !  "  and 
Frank  observed  with  an  air  of  conviction,  "  We 
could  n't  get  on  without  Jill,  possibly." 

"  Can  I  do  all  that  ?  I  did  n't  know  I  was  of  any  use. 
I  only  tried  to  be  good  and  grateful,  for  there  did  n't 
seem  to  be  anything  else  I  could  do,"  said  Jill,  won 
dering  why  they  were  all  so  fond  of  her. 

"  No  real  trying  is  ever  in  vain.  It  is  like  the  spring 
rain,  and  flowers  are  sure  to  follow  in  good  time.  The 
three  gifts  Patience  gave  St.  Lucy  were  courage,  cheer 
fulness,  and  love,  and  with  these  one  can  work  the 
sweetest  miracles  in  the  world,  as  you  see,"  and 
Mrs.  Minot  pointed  to  the  pretty  room  and  its  happy 
inmates. 

"  Am  I  really  the  least  bit  like  that  good  Lucinda  ? 
I  tried  to  be,  but  I  did  n't  think  I  was,"  asked  Jill 
softly. 

"  You  are  very  like  her  in  all  ways  but  one.  She 
did  not  get  well,  and  you  will." 

13 


194  JACK  AND  JILL. 

A  short  answer,  but  it  satisfied  Jill  to  her  heart's 
core,  and  that  night,  when  she  lay  in  bed,  she  thought 
to  herself:  "  How  curious  it  is  that  I  've  been  a  sort  of 
missionary  without  knowing  it !  They  all  love  and 
thank  me,  and  won't  let  me  go,  so  I  suppose  I  must 
have  done  something,  but  I  don't  know  what,  except 
trying  to  be  good  and  pleasant." 

That  was  the  secret,  and  Jill  found  it  out  just  when 
it  was  most  grateful  as  a  reward  for  past  efforts,  most 
helpful  as  an  encouragement  toward  the  constant  well 
doing  which  can  make  even  a  little  girl  a  joy  and  com 
fort  to  all  who  know  and  love  her. 


CHAPTER     XVI. 

UP  AT  MERRY'S. 

"TV TOW  fly  round,  child,  and  get  your  sweeping 
-*-^i  done  up  smart  and  early." 

"  Yes,  mother." 

"  I  shall  want  you  to  help  me  about  the  baking,  by 
and  by." 

"  Yes,  mother." 

"  Roxy  is  cleaning  the  cellar-closets,  so  you  '11  have 
to  get  the  vegetables  ready  for  dinner.  Father  wants 
a  boiled  dish,  and  I  shall  be  so  busy  I  can't  see  to  it." 

"  Yes,  mother." 

A  cheerful  voice  gave  the  three  answers,  but  it  cost 
Merry  an  effort  to  keep  it  so,  for  she  had  certain  little 
plans  of  her  own  which  made  the  work  before  her 
unusually  distasteful.  Saturday  always  was  a  trying 
day,  for,  though  she  liked  to  see  rooms  in  order,  she 
hated  to  sweep,  as  no  speck  escaped  Mrs.  Grant's  eye, 
and  only  the  good  old-fashioned  broom,  wielded  by  a 
pair  of  strong  arms,  was  allowed.  Baking  was  another 
trial :  she  loved  good  bread  and  delicate  pastry,  but 
did  not  enjoy  burning  her  face  over  a  hot  stove,  daub 
ing  her  hands  with  dough,  or  spending  hours  rolling 
out  cookies  for  the  boys ;  while  a  "  boiled  dinner " 
was  her  especial  horror,  as  it  was  not  elegant,  and  the 


196  JACK  AND  JILL. 

washing  of  vegetables  was  a  job  she  always  shirked 
when  she  could. 

However,  having  made  up  her  mind  to  do  her  work 
without  complaint,  she  ran  upstairs  to  put  on  her  dust- 
cap,  trying  to  look  as  if  sweeping  was  the  joy  of  her 
life. 

"  It  is  such  a  lovely  day,  I  did  want  to  rake  my  gar 
den,  and  have  a  walk  with  Molly,  and  finish  my  book 
so  I  can  get  another,"  she  said  with  a  sigh,  as  she 
leaned  out  of  the  open  window  for  a  breath  of  the 
unusually  mild  air. 

Down  in  the  ten-acre  lot  the  boys  were  carting  and 
spreading  loam ;  out  in  the  barn  her  father  was  getting 
his  plows  ready ;  over  the  hill  rose  the  smoke  of  the 
distant  factory,  and  the  river  that  turned  the  wheels 
was  gliding  through  the  meadows,  where  soon  the 
blackbirds  would  be  singing.  Old  Bess  pawed  the 
ground,  eager  to  be  off ;  the  gray  hens  were  scratching 
busily  all  about  the  yard ;  even  the  green  things  in 
the  garden  were  pushing  through  the  brown  earth, 
softened  by  April  rains,  and  there  was  a  shimmer  of 
sunshine  over  the  wide  landscape  that  made  every 
familiar  object  beautiful  with  hints  of  spring,  and  the 
activity  it  brings. 

Something  made  the  old  nursery  hymn  come  into 
Merry's  head,  and  humming  to  herself,  — 

"  In  works  of  labor  or  of  skill 
I  would  be  busy  too/'  — 

she  tied  on  her  cap,  shouldered  her  broom,  and  fell  to 
work  so  energetically  that  she  soon  swept  her  way 
through  the  chambers,  down  the  front  stairs  to  the 
parlor  door,  leaving  freshness  and  order  behind  her  as 
she  went. 


UP  AT  MERRY'S.  197 

She  always  groaned  when  she  entered  that  apart 
ment,  and  got  out  of  it  again  as  soon  as  possible,  for  it 
was,  like  most  country  parlors,  a  prim  and  chilly  place, 
with  little  beauty  and  no  comfort.  Black  horse-hair 
furniture,  very  slippery  and  hard,  stood  against  the 
wall;  the  table  had  its  gift  books,  albums,  worsted 
mat  and  ugly  lamp ;  the  mantel-piece  its  china  vases, 
pink  shells,  and  clock  that  never  went ;  the  gay  carpet 
was  kept  distressingly  bright  by  closed  shutters  six 
days  out  of  the  seven,  and  a  general  air  of  go-to-meeting 
solemnity  pervaded  the  room.  Merry  longed  to  make 
it  pretty  and  pleasant,  but  her  mother  would  allow  of 
no  change  there,  so  the  girl  gave  up  her  dreams  of  rugs 
and  hangings,  fine  pictures  and  tasteful  ornaments,  and 
dutifully  aired,  dusted,  and  shut  up  this  awful  apart 
ment  once  a  week,  privately  resolving  that,  if  she  ever 
had  a  parlor  of  her  own,  it  should  not  be  as  dismal  as 
a  tomb. 

The  dining-room  was  a  very  different  place,  for  here 
Merry  had  been  allowed  to  do  as  she  liked,  yet  so 
gradual  had  been  the  change,  that  she  would  have 
found  it  difficult  to  tell  how  it  came  about.  It  seemed 
to  begin  with  the  flowers,  for  her  father  kept  his  word 
about  the  "  posy  pots,"  and  got  enough  to  make  quite 
a  little  conservatory  in  the  bay-window,  which  was 
sufficiently  large  for  three  rows  all  round,  and  hanging- 
baskets  overhead.  Being  discouraged  by  her  first  fail 
ure,  Merry  gave  up  trying  to  have  things  nice  every 
where,  and  contented  herself  with  making  that  one 
nook  so  pretty  that  the  boys  called  it  her  "  bower." 
Even  busy  Mrs.  Grant  owned  that  plants  were  not  so 
messy  as  she  expected,  and  the  farmer  was  never  tired 
of  watching  "little  daughter"  as  she  sat  at  work  there, 
with  her  low  chair  and  table  full  of  books. 


198  JACK  AND  JILL. 

The  lamp  helped,  also,  for  Merry  set  up  her  own, 
and  kept  it  so  well  trimmed  that  it  burned  clear  and 
bright,  shining  on  the  green  arch  of  ivy  overhead, 
and  on  the  nasturtium  vines  framing  the  old  glass,  and 
peeping  at  their  gay  little  faces,  and  at  the  pretty 
young  girl,  so  pleasantly  that  first  her  father  came  to 
read  his  paper  by  it,  then  her  mother  slipped  in  to 
rest  on  the  lounge  in  the  corner,  and  finally  the  boys 
hovered  about  the  door  as  if  the  "  settin'-room  "  had 
grown  more  attractive  than  the  kitchen, 

But  the  open  fire  did  more  than  anything  else  to 
win  and  hold  them  all,  as  it  seldom  fails  to  do  when 
the  black  demon  of  an  air-tight  stove  is  banished  from 
the  hearth.  After  the  room  was  cleaned  till  it  shone, 
Merry  begged  to  have  the  brass  andirons  put  in,  and 
offered  to  keep  them  as  bright  as  gold  if  her  mother 
would  consent.  So  the  great  logs  were  kindled,  and 
the  flames  went  dancing  up  the  chimney  as  if  glad  to 
be  set  free  from  their  prison.  It  changed  the  whole 
room  like  magic,  and  no  one  could  resist  the  desire  to 
enjoy  its  cheery  comfort.  The  farmer's  three-cornered 
leathern  chair  soon  stood  on  one  side,  and  mother's 
rocker  on  the  other,  as  they  toasted  their  feet  and 
dozed  or  chatted  in  the  pleasant  warmth. 

The  boys'  slippers  were  always  ready  on  the  hearth  ; 
and  when  the  big  boots  were  once  off,  they  naturally 
settled  down  about  the  table,  where  the  tall  lamp,  with 
its  pretty  shade  of  pressed  autumn  leaves,  burned 
brightly,  and  the  books  and  papers  lay  ready  to  their 
hands  instead  of  being  tucked  out  of  sight  in  the 
closet.  They  were  beginning  to  see  that  "Merry's 
notions "  had  some  sense  in  them,  since  they  were 
made  comfortable,  and  good-naturedly  took  some  pains 


UP  AT  MERRY'S.  199 

to  please  her  in  various  ways.  Tom  brushed  his  hair 
and  washed  his  hands  nicely  before  he  came  to 
table.  Dick  tried  to  lower  his  boisterous  laughter,  and 
Harry  never  smoked  in  the  sitting-room.  Even  Roxy 
expressed  her  pleasure  in  seeing  "  things  kind  of  spruced 
up,"  and  Merry's  gentle  treatment  of  the  hard-working 
drudge  won  her  heart  entirely. 

The  girl  was  thinking  of  these  changes  as  she  watered 
her  flowers,  dusted  the  furniture,  and  laid  the  fire  ready 
for  kindling ;  and,  when  all  was  done,  she  stood  a 
minute  to  enjoy  the  pleasant  room,  full  of  spring  sun 
shine,  fresh  air,  and  exquisite  order.  It  seemed  to  give 
her  heart  for  more  distasteful  labors,  and  she  fell  to 
work  at  the  pies  as  cheerfully  as  if  she  liked  it. 

Mrs.  Grant  was  flying  about  the  kitchen,  getting  the 
loaves  of  brown  and  white  bread  ready  for  the  big 
oven.  Roxy's  voice  came  up  from  the  cellar  singing 
"  Bounding  Billows,"  with  a  swashing  and  scrubbing 
accompaniment  which  suggested  that  she  was  actually 
enjoying  a  "life  on  the  ocean  wave."  Merry,  in  her 
neat  cap  and  apron,  stood  smiling  over  her  work  as  she 
deftly  rolled  and  clipped,  filled  and  covered,  finding  a 
certain  sort  of  pleasure  in  doing  it  well,  and  adding 
interest  to  it  by  crimping  the  crust,  making  pretty 
devices  with  strips  of  paste  and  star-shaped  prickings 
of  the  fork. 

"  Good-will  giveth  skill,"  says  the  proverb,  and  even 
particular  Mrs.  Grant  was  satisfied  when  she  paused  to 
examine  the  pastry  with  her  experienced  eye. 

"  You  are  a  handy  child  and  a  credit  to  your  bring 
ing  up,  though  I  do  say  it.  Those  are  as  pretty  pies 
as  I  'd  wish  to  eat,  if  they  bake  well,  and  there  's  no 
reason  why  they  should  n't." 


200  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  May  I  make  some  tarts  or  rabbits  of  these  bits  ? 
The  boys  like  them,  and  I  enjoy  modelling  this  sort  of 
thing,"  said  Merry,  who  was  trying  to  mould  a  bird,  as 
she  had  seen  Ralph  do  with  clay  to  amuse  Jill  while 
the  bust  was  going  on. 

"No,  dear ;  there  's  no  time  for  knick-knacks  to-day. 
The  beets  ought  to  be  on  this  minute.  Run  and  get 
'em,  and  be  sure  you  scrape  the  carrots  well." 

Poor  Merry  put  away  the  delicate  task  she  was  just 
beginning  to  like,  and  taking  a  pan  went  down  cellar, 
wishing  vegetables  could  be  grown  without  earth,  for 
she  hated  to  put  her  hands  in  dirty  water.  A  word  of 
praise  to  Roxy  made  that  grateful  scrubber  leave  her 
work  to  poke  about  in  the  root-cellar,  choosing  "sech 
as  was  pretty  much  of  a  muchness,  else  they  would  n't 
bile  even ;"  so  Merry  was  spared  that  part  of  the  job, 
and  went  up  to  scrape  and  wash  without  complaint, 
since  it  was  for  father.  She  was  repaid  at  noon  by  the 
relish  with  which  he  enjoyed  his  dinner,  for  Merry 
tried  to  make  even  a  boiled  dish  pretty  by  arranging 
the  beets,  carrots,  turnips,  and  potatoes  in  contrasting 
colors,  with  the  beef  hidden  under  the  cabbage  leaves. 

"  Now,  I  '11  rest  and  read  for  an  hour,  then  I  '11  rake 
my  garden,  or  run  down  town  to  see  Molly  and  get  some 
seeds,"  she  thought  to  herself,  as  she  put  away  the 
spoons  and  glasses,  which  she  liked  to  wash,  that  they 
might  always  be  clear  and  bright. 

"  If  you  Ve  done  all  your  own  mending,  there  's  a 
heap  of  socks  to  be  looked  over.  Then  I  '11  show  you 
about  darning  the  table-cloths.  I  do  hate  to  have  a 
stitch  of  work  left  over  till  Monday,"  said  Mrs.  Grant, 
who  never  took  naps,  and  prided  herself  on  sitting 
down  to  her  needle  at  3  P.M.  every  day. 


UP  AT  MERRY'S.  201 

"  Yes,  mother ; "  and  Merry  went  slowly  upstairs, 
feeling  that  a  part  of  Saturday  ought  to  be  a  holiday 
after  books  and  work  all  the  week.  As  she  braided  up 
her  hair,  her  eye  fell  upon  the  reflection  of  her  own 
face  in  the  glass.  Not  a  happy  nor  a  pretty  one  just 
then,  and  Merry  was  so  unaccustomed  to  seeing  any 
other,  that  involuntarily  the  frown  smoothed  itself  out, 
the  eyes  lost  their  weary  look,  the  drooping  lips  curved 
into  a  smile,  and,  leaning  her  elbows  on  the  bureau,  she 
shook  her  head  at  herself,  saying,  half  aloud,  as  she 
glanced  at  Ivanhoe  lying  near,  — 

"  You  need  n't  look  so  cross  and  ugly  just  because 
you  can't  have  what  you  want.  Sweeping,  baking,  and 
darning  are  not  so  bad  as  being  plagued  with  lovers 
and  carried  off  and  burnt  at  the  stake,  so  I  won't  envy 
poor  Rebecca  her  jewels  and  curls  and  romantic  times, 
but  make  the  best  of  my  own." 

Then  she  laughed,  and  the  bright  face  came  back 
into  the  mirror,  looking  like  an  old  friend,  and  Merry 
went  on  dressing  with  care,  for  she  took  pleasure  in 
her  own  little  charms,  and  felt  a  sense  of  comfort  in 
knowing  that  she  could  always  have  one  pretty  thing 
to  look  at  if  she  kept  her  own  face  serene  and  sweet. 
It  certainly  looked  so  as  it  bent  over  the  pile  of  big 
socks  half  an  hour  later,  and  brightened  with  each  that 
was  laid  aside.  Her  mother  saw  it,  and,  guessing  why 
such  wistful  glances  went  from  clock  to  window,  kindly 
shortened  the  task  of  table-cloth  darning  by  doing  a 
good  bit  herself,  before  putting  it  into  Merry's  hands. 

She  was  a  good  and  loving  mother  in  spite  of  her 
strict  ways,  and  knew  that  it  was  better  for  her  roman 
tic  daughter  to  be  learning  all  the  housewifery  lessons 
she  could  teach  her,  than  to  be  reading  novels,  writing 


202  JACK  AND  JILL. 

verses,  or  philandering  about  with  her  head  full  of 
girlish  fancies,  quite  innocent  in  themselves,  but  not 
the  stuff  to  live  on.  So  she  wisely  taught  the  hands 
that  preferred  to  pick  flowers,  trim  up  rooms  and  mould 
birds,  to  work  well  with  needle,  broom,  and  rolling-pin  ; 
put  a  receipt-book  before  the  eyes  that  loved  to  laugh 
and  weep  over  tender  tales,  and  kept  the  young  head 
and  heart  safe  and  happy  with  wholesome  duties,  use 
ful  studies,  and  such  harmless  pleasures  as  girls  should 
love,  instead  of  letting  them  waste  their  freshness  in 
vague  longings,  idle  dreams,  and  frivolous  pastimes. 

But  it  was  often  hard  to  thwart  the  docile  child,  and 
lately  she  had  seemed  to  be  growing  up  so  fast  that  her 
mother  began  to  feel  a  new  sort  of  tenderness  for  this 
sweet  daughter,  who  was  almost  ready  to  take  upon 
herself  the  cares,  as  well  as  triumphs  and  delights,  of 
maidenhood.  Something  in  the  droop  of  the  brown 
head,  and  the  quick  motion  of  the  busy  hand  with  a 
little  burn  on  it,  made  it  difficult  for  Mrs.  Grant  to 
keep  Merry  at  work  that  day,  and  her  eye  watched  the 
clock  almost  as  impatiently  as  the  girl's,  for  she  liked 
to  see  the  young  face  brighten  when  the  hour  of  re 
lease  came. 

"What  next?"  asked  Merry,  as  the  last  stitch  was 
set,  and  she  stifled  a  sigh  on  hearing  the  clock  strike 
four,  for  the  sun  was  getting  low,  and  the  lovely  after 
noon  going  fast. 

"  One  more  job,  if  you  are  not  too  tired  for  it.  I 
want  the  receipt  for  diet  drink  Miss  Dawes  promised 
me ;  would  you  like  to  run  down  and  get  it  for  me, 
dear?" 

"Yes,  mother!  "  and  that  answer  was  as  blithe  as  a 
robin's  chirp,  for  that  was  just  where  Merry  wanted  to 
go. 


UP  AT  MERRTS.  203 

Away  went  thimble  and  scissors,  and  in  five  minutes 
away  went  Merry,  skipping  down  the  hill  without  a 
care  in  the  world,  for  a  happy  heart  sat  singing  within, 
and  everything  seemed  full  of  beauty. 

She  had  a  capital  time  with  Molly,  called  on  Jill,  did 
her  shopping  in  the  village,  and  had  just  turned  to 
walk  up  the  hill,  when  Ralph  Evans  came  tramping 
along  behind  her,  looking  so  pleased  and  proud  about 
something  that  she  could  not  help  asking  what  it  was, 
for  they  were  great  friends,  and  Merry  thought  that  to 
be  an  artist  was  the  most  glorious  career  a  man  could 
choose. 

"  I  know  you  've  got  some  good  news,"  she  said, 
looking  up  at  him  as  he  touched  his  hat  and  fell  into 
step  with  her,  seeming  more  contented  than  before. 

"I  have,  and  was  just  coming  up  to  tell  you,  for  I 
was  sure  you  would  be  glad.  It  is  only  a  hope,  a 
chance,  but  it  is  so  splendid  I  feel  as  if  I  must  shout 
and  dance,  or  fly  over  a  fence  or  two,  to  let  off  steam." 

"  Do  tell  me,  quick  ;  have  you  got  an  order  ?  "  asked 
Merry,  full  of  interest  at  once,  for  artistic  vicissitudes 
were  very  romantic,  and  she  liked  to  hear  about  them. 

"  I  may  go  abroad  in  the  autumn." 

"  Oh,  how  lovely  !  " 

"  Is  n't  it  ?  David  German  is  going  to  spend  a  year 
in  Rome,  to  finish  a  statue,  and  wants  me  to  go  along. 
Grandma  is  willing,  as  cousin  Maria  wants  her  for  a 
long  visit,  so  everything  looks  promising  and  I  really 
think  I  may, go." 

"  Won't  it  cost  a  great  deal  ?  "  asked  Merry,  who,  in 
spite  of  her  little  elegancies,  had  a  good  deal  of  her 
thrifty  mother's  common  sense. 

"  Yes ;  and  I  've  got  to  earn  it.     But  I  can  —  I  know 


204  JACK  AND  JILL. 

I  can,  for  I  've  saved  some,  and  I  shall  work  like  ten 
beavers  all  summer.  I  won't  borrow  if  I  can  help  it, 
but  I  know  some  one  who  would  lend  me  five  hundred 
if  I  wanted  it ; "  and  Ralph  looked  as  eager  and  secure 
as  if  the  earning  of  twice  that  sum  was  a  mere  trifle 
when  all  the  longing  of  his  life  was  put  into  his  daily 
tasks. 

"I  wish  I  had  it  to  give  you.  It  must  be  so  splen 
did  to  feel  that  you  can  do  great  things  if  you  only 
have  the  chance.  And  to  travel,  and  see  all  the  lovely 
pictures  and  statues,  and  people  and  places  in  Italy. 
How  happy  you  must  be  !  "  and  Merry's  eyes  had  the 
wistful  look  they  always  wore  when  she  dreamed 
dreams  of  the  world  she  loved  to  live  in. 

"  I  am  —  so  happy  that  I  'm  afraid  it  never  will  hap 
pen.  If  I  do  go,  I  '11  write  and  tell  you  all  about  the 
fine  sights,  and  how  I  get  on.  Would  you  like  me 
to  ?  "  asked  Ralph,  beginning  enthusiastically  and  end 
ing-  rather  bashfully,  for  he  admired  Merry  very  much, 
and  was  not  quite  sure  how  this  proposal  would  be 
received. 

"  Indeed  I  should  !  I  'd  feel  so  grand  to  have  letters 
from  Paris  and  Rome,  and  you  'd  have  so  much  to  tell 
it  would  be  almost  as  good  as  going  myself,"  she  said, 
looking  off  into  the  daffodil  sky,  as  they  paused  a  min 
ute  on  the  hill-top  to  get  breath,  for  both  had  walked 
as  fast  as  they  talked. 

"  And  will  you  answer  the  letters  ?  "  asked  Ralph, 
watching  the  innocent  face,  which  looked  unusually 
kind  and  beautiful  to  him  in  that  soft  light. 

"  Why,  yes  ;  I  'd  love  to,  only  I  shall  not  have  any 
thing  interesting  to  say.  What  can  I  write  about  ?  " 
and  Merry  smiled  as  she  thought  how  dull  her  letters 


UP  AT  MERRY'S.  205 

would  sound  after  the  exciting  details  his  would  doubt 
less  give. 

"  Write  about  yourself,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  people 
I  know.  Grandma  will  be  gone,  and  I  shall  want  to 
hear  how  you  get  on."  Ralph  looked  very  anxious 
indeed  to  hear,  and  Merry  promised  she  would  tell  all 
about  the  other  people,  adding,  as  she  turned  from  the 
evening  peace  and  loveliness  to  the  house,  whence 
came  the  clatter  of  milk-pans  and  the  smell  of  cook 
ing,— 

"I  never  should  have  anything  very  nice  to  tell 
about  myself,  for  I  don't  do  interesting  things  as  you 
do,  and  you  would  n't  care  to  hear  about  school,  and 
sewing,  and  messing  round  at  home." 

Merry  gave  a  disdainful  little  sniff  at  the  savory  per 
fume  of  ham  which  saluted  them,  and  paused  with  her 
hand  on  the  gate,  as  if  she  found  it  pleasanter  out 
there  than  in  the  house.  Ralph  seemed  to  agree  with 
her,  for,  leaning  on  the  gate,  he  lingered  to  say,  with 
real  sympathy  in  his  tone  and  something  else  in  his 
face,  — 

"  Yes,  I  should  ;  so  you  write  and  tell  me  all  about 
it.  I  did  n't  know  you  had  any  worries,  for  you  always 
seemed  like  one  of  the  happiest  people  in  the  world, 
with  so  many  to  pet  and  care  for  you,  and  plenty  of 
money,  and  nothing  very  hard  or  hateful  to  do.  You  'd 
think  you  were  well  off  if  you  knew  as  much  about 
poverty  and  work  and  never  getting  what  you  want, 
as  I  do." 

"  You  bear  your  worries  so  well  that  nobody  knows 
you  have  them.  I  ought  not  to  complain,  and  I  won't, 
for  I  do  have  all  I  need.  I  'm  so  glad  you  are  going  to 
get  what  you  want  at  last ;"  and  Merry  held  out  her 


206  JACK  AND  JILL. 

hand  to  say  good-night,  with  so  much  pleasure  in  her 
face  that  Ralph  could  not  make  up  his  mind  to  go  just 
yet. 

"  I  shall  have  to  scratch  round  in  a  lively  way  before 
I  do  get  it,  for  David  says  a  fellow  can't  live  on  less 
than  four  or  five  hundred  a  year,  even  living  as  poor 
artists  have  to,  in  garrets  and  on  crusts.  I  don't  mind 
as  long  as  Grandma  is  all  right.  She  is  away  to-night, 
or  I  should  not  be  here,"  he  added,  as  if  some  excuse 
was  necessary. 

Merry  needed  no  hint,  for  her  tender  heart  was 
touched  by  the  vision  of  her  friend  in  a  garret,  and  she 
suddenly  rejoiced  that  there  was  ham  and  eggs  for 
supper,  so  that  he  might  be  well  fed  once,  at  least, 
before  he  went  away  to  feed  on  artistic  crusts. 

"  Being  here,  come  in  and  spend  the  evening.  The 
boys  will  like  to  hear  the  news,  and  so  will  father.  Do, 
now." 

It  was  impossible  to  refuse  the  invitation  he  had 
been  longing  for,  and  in  they  went  to  the  great  delight 
of  Roxy,  who  instantly  retired  to  the  pantry,  smiling 
significantly,  and  brought  out  the  most  elaborate  pie 
in  honor  of  the  occasion.  Merry  touched  up  the  table, 
and  put  a  little  vase  of  flowers  in  the  middle  to  redeem 
the  vulgarity  of  doughnuts.  Of  course  the  boys  upset 
it,  but  as  there  was  company  nothing  was  said,  and 
Ralph  devoured  his  supper  with  the  appetite  of  a  hun 
gry  boy,  while  watching  Merry  eat  bread  and  cream 
out  of  an  old-fashioned  silver  porringer,  and  thinking 
it  the  sweetest  sight  he  ever  beheld. 

Then  the  young  people  gathered  about  the  table,  full 
of  the  new  plans,  and  the  elders  listened  as  they  rested 
after  the  week's  work.  A  pleasant  evening,  for  they 


UP  AT  MERRY'S.  207 

all  liked  Ralph,  but  as  the  parents  watched  Merry  sit 
ting  among  the  great  lads  like  a  little  queen  among  her 
subjects,  half  unconscious  as  yet  of  the  power  in  her 
hands,  they  nodded  to  one  another,  and  then  shook 
their  heads  as  if  they  said,  — 

"  I  'm  afraid  the  time  is  coming,  mother." 

"  No  danger  as  long  as  she  don't  know  it,  father." 

At  nine  the  boys  went  off  to  the  barn,  the  farmer  to 
wind  up  the  eight-day  clock,  and  the  housewife  to  see 
how  the  baked  beans  and  Indian  pudding  for  to-mor 
row  were  getting  on  in  the  oven.  Ralph  took  up  his 
hat  to  go,  saying  as  he  looked  at  the  shade  on  the  tall 
student  lamp,— 

11  What  a  good  light  that  gives  !  I  can  see  it  as  I 
go  home  every  night,  and  it  burns  up  here  like  a  bea 
con.  I  always  look  for  it,  and  it  hardly  ever  fails  to 
be  burning.  Sort  of  cheers  up  the  way,  you  know, 
when  I  'm  tired  or  low  in  my  mind." 

"  Then  I  'm  very  glad  I  got  it.  I  liked  the  shape, 
but  the  boys  laughed  at  it  as  they  did  at  my  bulrushes 
in  a  ginger-jar  over  there.  I'd  been  reading  about 
'household  art,'  and  I  thought  I'd  try  a  little,"  an 
swered  Merry,  laughing  at  her  own  whims. 

"  You  've  got  a  better  sort  of  household  art,  I  think, 
for  you  make  people  happy  and  places  pretty,  without 
fussing  over  it.  This  room  is  ever  so  much  improved 
every  time  I  come,  though  I  hardly  see  what  it  is 
except  the  flowers,"  said  Ralph,  looking  from  the  girl 
to  the  tall  calla  that  bent  its  white  cup  above  her  as  if 
to  pour  its  dew  upon  her  head. 

u  Isn't  that  lovely?  I  tried  to  draw  it  —  the  shape 
was  so  graceful  I  wanted  to  keep  it.  But  I  could  n't. 
Is  n't  it  a  pity  such  beautiful  things  won't  last  forever?" 


208  JACK  AND  JILL. 

and  Merry  looked  regretfully  at  the  half-f aded  one  that 
grew  beside  the  fresh  blossom. 

"I  can  keep  it  for  you.  It  would  look  well  in 
plaster.  May  I  ?  "  asked  Ralph. 

"  Thank  you,  I  should  like  that  very  much.  Take 
the  real  one  as  a  model  —  please  do ;  there  are  more 
coming,  and  this  will  brighten  up  your  room  for  a  day 
or  two." 

As  she  spoke,  Merry  cut  the  stem,  and,  adding  two 
or  three  of  the  great  green  leaves,  put  the  handsome 
flower  in  his  hand  with  so  much  good-will  that  he  felt 
as  if  he  had  received  a  very  precious  gift.  Then  he 
said  good-night  so  gratefully  that  Merry's  hand  quite 
tingled  with  the  grasp  of  his,  and  went  away,  often 
looking  backward  through  the  darkness  to  where  the 
light  burned  brightly  on  the  hill-top,  —  the  beacon  kin 
dled  by  an  unconscious  Hero  for  a  young  Leander 
swimming  gallantly  against  wind  and  tide  toward  the 
goal  of  his  ambition. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S. 

"  TVfOW,  my  dears,  I  've  something  very  curious  to 
•*•  ^1  tell  you,  so  listen  quietly  and  then  I  '11  give  you 
your  dinners,"  said  Molly,  addressing  the  nine  cats  who 
came  trooping  after  her  as  she  went  into  the  shed 
chamber  with  a  bowl  of  milk  and  a  plate  of  scraps  in 
her  hands.  She  had  taught  them  to  behave  well  at 
meals,  so,  though  their  eyes  glared  and  their  tails 
quivered  with  impatience,  they  obeyed  ;  and  when  she 
put  the  food  on  a  high  shelf  and  retired  to  the  big 
basket,  the  four  old  cats  sat  demurely  down  before  her, 
while  the  five  kits  scrambled  after  her  -and  tumbled 
into  her  lap,  as  if  hoping  to  hasten  the  desired  feast  by 
their  innocent  gambols. 

Granny,  Tobias,  Mortification,  and  Molasses  were  the 
elders.  Granny,  a  gray  old  puss,  was  the  mother  and 
grandmother  of  all  the  rest.  Tobias  was  her  eldest 
son,  and  Mortification  his  brother,  so  named  because  he 
had  lost  his  tail,  which  affliction  depressed  his  spirits 
and  cast  a  blight  over  his  young  life.  Molasses  was  a 
yellow  cat,  the  mamma  of  four  of  the  kits,  the  fifth 
being  Granny's  latest  darling.  Toddlekins,  the  little 
aunt,  was  the  image  of  her  mother,  and  very  sedate 
even  at  that  early  age;  Miss  Muffet,  so  called  from 
her  dread  of  spiders,  was  a  timid  black  and  white  kit ; 


210  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Beauty,  a  pretty  Maltese,  with  a  serene  little  face  and 
pink  nose ;  Ragbag,  a  funny  thing,  every  color  that  a 
cat  could  be ;  and  Scamp,  who  well  deserved  his  name, 
for  he  was  the  plague  of  Miss  Bat's  life,  and  Molly's 
especial  pet. 

He  was  now  perched  on  her  shoulder,  and,  as  she 
talked,  kept  peeping  into  her  face  or  biting  her  ear  in 
the  most  impertinent  way,  while  the  others  sprawled 
in  her  lap  or  promenaded  round  the  basket  rim. 

"My  friends,  something  very  remarkable  has  hap 
pened  :  Miss  Bat  is  cleaning  house ! "  and,  having 
made  this  announcement,  Molly  leaned  back  to  see 
how  the  cats  received  it,  for  she  insisted  that  they 
understood  all  she  said  to  them. 

Tobias  stared,  Mortification  lay  down  as  if  it  was 
too  much  for  him,  Molasses  beat  her  tail  on  the  floor  as 
if  whipping  a  dusty  carpet,  and  Granny  began  to  purr 
approvingly.  The  giddy  kits  paid  no  attention,  as  they 
did  not  know  what  house-cleaning  meant,  happy  little 
dears ! 

"I  thought  you'd  like  it,  Granny,  for  you  are  a 
decent  cat,  and  know  what  is  proper,"  continued 
Molly,  leaning  down  to  stroke  the  old  puss,  who 
blinked  affectionately  at  her.  "  I  can't  imagine  what 
put  it  into  Miss  Bat's  head.  I  never  said  a  word,  and 
gave  up  groaning  over  the  clutter,  as  I  could  n't  mend 
it.  I  just  took  care  of  Boo  and  myself,  and  left  her  to 
be  as  untidy  as  she  pleased,  and  she  is  a  regular 
old  "  — 

Here  Scamp  put  his  paw  on  her  lips  because  he  saw 
them  moving,  but  it  seemed  as  if  it  was  to  check  the 
disrespectful  word  just  coming  out. 

"  Well,  I  won't  call  names ;  but  what  shall  I  do 


DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S.  211 

when  I  see  everything  in  confusion,  and  she  won't  let 
me  clear  up  ? "  asked  Molly,  looking  round  at  Scamp, 
who  promptly  put  the  little  paw  on  her  eyelid,  as  if 
the  roll  of  the  blue  ball  underneath  amused  him. 

"  Shut  my  eyes  to  it,  you  mean  ?  I  do  all  I  can,  but 
it  is  hard,  when  I  wish  to  be  nice,  and  do  try ;  don't  I  ?  " 
asked  Molly.  But  Scamp  was  ready  for  her,  and 
began  to  comb  her  hair  with  both  paws  as  he  stood  on 
his  hind  legs  to  work  so  busily  that  Molly  laughed  and 
pulled  him  down,  saying,  as  she  cuddled  the  sly  kit,  — 

"  You  sharp  little  thing !  I  know  my  hair  is  not 
neat  now,  for  I  've  been  chasing  Boo  round  the  garden 
to  wash  him  for  school.  Then  Miss  Bat  threw  the 
parlor  carpet  out  of  the  window,  and  I  was  so  sur 
prised  I  had  to  run  and  tell  you.  Now,  what  had  we 
better  do  about  it  ?  " 

The  cats  all  winked  at  her,  but  no  one  had  any 
advice  to  offer,  except  Tobias,  who  walked  to  the 
shelf,  and,  looking  up,  uttered  a  deep,  suggestive  yowl, 
which  said  as  plainly  as  words,  "  Dinner  first  and  dis 
cussion  afterward." 

"  Very  well,  don't  scramble,"  said  Molly,  getting  up 
to  feed  her  pets.  First  the  kits,  who  rushed  at  the 
bowl  and  thrust  their  heads  in,  lapping  as  if  for  a 
wager;  then  the  cats,  who  each  went  to  one  of  the 
four  piles  of  scraps  laid  round  at  intervals  and  placidly 
ate  their  meat ;  while  Molly  retired  to  the  basket,  to 
ponder  over  the  phenomena  taking  place  in  the  house. 

She  could  not  imagine  what  had  started  the  old  lady. 
It  was  not  the  example  of  her  neighbors,  who  had 
beaten  carpets  and  scrubbed  paint  every  spring  for 
years  without  exciting  her  to  any  greater  exertion 
than  cleaning  a  few  windows  and  having  a  man  to 


212  JACK  AND  JILL. 

clear  away  the  rubbish  displayed  when  the  snow 
melted.  Molly  never  guessed  that  her  own  efforts 
were  at  the  bottom  of  the  change,  or  knew  that  a  few 
words  not  meant  for  her  ear  had  shamed  Miss  Bat  into 
action.  Coming  home  from  prayer-meeting  one  dark 
night,  she  trotted  along  behind  two  old  ladies  who 
were  gossiping  in  loud  voices,  as  one  was  rather  deaf, 
and  Miss  Bat  was  both  pleased  and  troubled  to  hear 
herself  unduly  praised. 

"  I  always  said  Sister  Dawes  meant  well ;  but  she 's 
getting  into  years,  and  the  care  of  two  children  is  a 
good  deal  for  her,  with  her  cooking  and  her  rheumatiz. 
I  don't  deny  she  did  neglect  'em  for  a  spell,  but  she 
does  well  by  'em  now,  and  I  would  n't  wish  to  see 
better-appearing  children." 

"  You  've  no  idee  how  improved  Molly  is.  She  came 
in  to  see  my  girls,  and  brought  her  sewing-work,  shirts 
for  the  boy,  and  done  it  as  neat  and  capable  as  you  'd 
wish  to  see.  She  always  was  a  smart  child,  but  dread' 
ful  careless,"  said  the  other  old  lady,  evidently  much 
impressed  by  the  change  in  harum-scarurn  Molly  Loo. 

"  Being  over  to  Mis  Minot's  so  much  has  been  good 
for  her,  and  up  to  Mis  Grant's.  Girls  catch  neat  ways 
as  quick  as  they  do  untidy  ones,  and  them  wild  little 
tykes  often  turn  out  smart  women." 

"  Sister  Dawes  has  done  well  by  them  children,  and 
I  hope  Mr.  Bemis  sees  it.  He  ought  to  give  her  some 
thing  comfortable  to  live  on  when  she  can't  do  for  him 
any  longer.  He  can  well  afford  it." 

"  I  have  n't  a  doubt  he  will.  He  's  a  lavish  man 
when  he  starts  to  do  a  thing,  but  dreadful  unobserving, 
else  he  'd  have  seen  to  matters  long  ago.  Them  chil 
dren  was  town-talk  last  fall,  and  I  used  to  feel  as  if  it 


DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S.  218 

was  my  bounden  duty  to  speak  to  Miss  Dawes.  But 
I  never  did,  fearing  I  might  speak  too  plain,  and  hurt 
her  feelings." 

"  You  Ve  spoken  plain  enough  now,  and  I  'm  be 
holden  to  you,  though  you  '11  never  know  it,"  said 
Miss  Bat  to  herself,  as  she  slipped  into  her  own  gate, 
while  the  gossips  trudged  on  quite  unconscious  of  the 
listener  behind  them. 

Miss  Bat  was  a  worthy  old  soul  in  the  main,  only, 
like  so  many  of  us,  she  needed  rousing  up  to  her  duty. 
She  had  got  the  rousing  now,  and  it  did  her  good,  for 
she  could  not  bear  to  be  praised  when  she  had  not  de 
served  it.  She  had  watched  Molly's  efforts  with  lazy 
interest,  and  when  the  girl  gave  up  meddling  with  her 
affairs,  as  she  called  the  housekeeping,  Miss  Bat  ceased 
to  oppose  her,  and  let  her  scrub  Boo,  mend  clothes, 
and  brush  her  hair  as  much  as  she  liked.  So  Molly 
had  worked  along  without  any  help  from  her,  running 
in  to  Mrs.  Pecq  for  advice,  to  Merry  for  comfort,  or 
Mrs.  Minot  for  the  higher  kind  of  help  one  often  needs 
so  much.  Now  Miss  Bat  found  that  she  was  getting 
the  credit  and  the  praise  belonging  to  other  people, 
and  it  stirred  her  up  to  try  and  deserve  a  part  at 
least. 

"  Molly  don't  want  any  help  about  her  work  or  the 
boy  :  it 's  too  late  for  that ;  but  if  this  house  don't  get 
a  spring  cleaning  that  will  make  it  shine,  my  name 
ain't  Bathsheba  Dawes,"  said  the  old  lady,  as  she 
put  away  her  bonnet  that  night,  and  laid  energetic 
plans  for  a  grand  revolution,  inspired  thereto  not  only 
by  shame,  but  by  the  hint  that  "  Mr.  Bemis  was  a 
lavish  man,"  as  no  one  knew  better  than  she. 

Molly's  amazement  next  day  at  seeing  carpets  fty 


214  JACK  AND  JILL. 

out  of  window,  ancient  cobwebs  come  down,  and 
long-undisturbed  closets  routed  out  to  the  great  dis 
may  of  moths  and  mice,  has  been  already  confided  to 
the  cats,  and  as  she  sat  there  watching  them  lap  and 
gnaw,  she  said  to  herself,  — 

"  I  don't  understand  it,  but  as  she  never  says  much 
to  me  about  my  affairs,  I  won't  take  any  notice  till  she 
gets  through,  then  I  '11  admire  everything  all  I  can. 
It  is  so  pleasant  to  be  praised  after  you  've  been  trying 
hard." 

She  might  well  say  that,  for  she  got  very  little  her 
self,  and  her  trials  had  been  many,  her  efforts  not  always 
successful,  and  her  reward  seemed  a  long  way  off. 
Poor  Boo  could  have  sympathized  with  her,  for  he  had 
suffered  much  persecution  from  his  small  schoolmates 
when  he  appeared  with  large  gray  patches  on  the 
little  brown  trousers,  where  he  had  worn  them  out 
coasting  down  those  too  fascinating  steps.  As  he 
could  not  see  the  patches  himself,  he  fancied  them  in 
visible,  and  came  home  much  afflicted  by  the  jeers  of 
his  friends.  Then  Molly  tried  to  make  him  a  new 
pair  out  of  a  sack  of  her  own ;  but  she  cut  both  sides 
for  the  same  leg,  so  one  was  wrong  side  out.  Fondly 
hoping  no  one  would  observe  it,  she  sewed  bright 
buttons  wherever  they  could  be  put,  and  sent  confiding 
Boo  away  in  a  pair  of  blue  trousers,  which  were  ab 
surdly  hunchy  behind  and  buttony  before.  He  came 
home  heart-broken  and  muddy,  having  been  accident 
ally  tipped  into  a  mud-puddle  by  two  bad  boys  who  felt 
that  such  tailoring  was  an  insult  to  mankind.  That 
roused  Molly's  spirit,  and  she  begged  her  father  to 
take  the  boy  and  have  him  properly  fitted  out,  as  he 
was  old  enough  now  to  be  well  dressed,  and  she 


DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S.  215 

wouldn't  have  him  tormented.  His  attention  being 
called  to  the  trousers,  Mr.  Bemis  had  a  good  laugh 
over  them,  and  then  got  Boo  a  suit  which  caused  him 
to  be  the  admired  of  all  observers,  and  to  feel  as  proud 
as  a  little  peacock. 

Cheered  by  this  success,  Molly  undertook  a  set  of 
small  shirts,  and  stitched  away  bravely,  though  her 
own  summer  clothes  were  in  a  sad  state,  and  for  the 
first  time  in  her  life  she  cared  about  what  she  should 
wear. 

"  I  must  ask  Merry,  and  maybe  father  will  let  me 
go  with  her  and  her  mother  when  they  do  their  shop 
ping,  instead  of  leaving  it  to  Miss  Bat,  who  dresses 
me  like  an  old  woman.  Merry  knows  what  is  pretty 
and  becoming :  I  don't,"  thought  Molly,  meditating  in 
the  bushel  basket,  with  her  eyes  on  her  snuff-colored 
gown  and  the  dark  purple  bow  at  the  end  of  the  long 
braid  Muffet  had  been  playing  with. 

Molly  was  beginning  to  see  that  even  so  small  a 
matter  as  the  choice  of  colors  made  a  difference  in 
one's  appearance,  and  to  wonder  why  Merry  always 
took  such  pains  to  have  a  blue  tie  for  the  gray  dress, 
a  rosy  one  for  the  brown,  and  gloves  that  matched  her 
bonnet  ribbons.  Merry  never  wore  a  locket  outside  her 
sack,  a  gay  bow  in  her  hair  and  soiled  cuffs,  a  smart 
hat  and  the  braid  worn  off  her  skirts.  She  was  exqui 
sitely  neat  and  simple,  yet  always  looked  well-dressed 
and  pretty  ;  for  her  love  of  beauty  taught  her  what  all 
girls  should  learn  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  care  for 
appearances,  —  that  neatness  and  simplicity  are  their 
best  ornaments,  that  good  habits  are  better  than  fine 
clothes,  and  the  most  elegant  manners  are  the  kindest. 

All  these  thoughts  were  dancing  through   Molly's 


216  JACK  AND  JILL. 

head,  and  when  she  left  her  cats,  after  a  general  romp 
in  which  even  decorous  Granny  allowed  her  family  to 
play  leap-frog  over  her  respectable  back,  she  had  made 
up  her  mind  not  to  have  yellow  ribbons  on  her  summer 
hat  if  she  got  a  pink  muslin  as  she  had  planned,  but 
to  finish  off  Boo's  last  shirt  before  she  went  shopping 
with  Merry. 

It  rained  that  evening,  and  Mr.  Bemis  had  a  head 
ache,  so  he  threw  himself  down  upon  the  lounge  after 
tea  for  a  nap,  with  his  silk  handkerchief  spread  over 
his  face.  He  did  get  a  nap,  and  when  he  waked  he 
lay  for  a  time  drowsily  listening  to  the  patter  of  the 
rain,  and  another  sound  which  was  even  more  soothing. 
Putting  back  a  corner  of  the  handkerchief  to  learn 
what  it  was,  he  saw  Molly  sitting  by  the  fire  with  Boo 
in  her  lap,  rocking  and  humming  as  she  warmed  his 
little  bare  feet,  having  learned  to  guard  against  croup 
by  attending  to  the  damp  shoes  and  socks  before  going 
to  bed.  Boo  lay  with  his  round  face  turned  up  to  hers, 
stroking  her  cheek  while  the  sleepy  blue  eyes  blinked 
lovingly  at  her  as  she  sang  her  lullaby  with  a  motherly 
patience  sweet  to  see.  They  made  a  pretty  little  pic 
ture,  and  Mr.  Bemis  looked  at  it  with  pleasure,  having 
a  leisure  moment  in  which  to  discover,  as  all  parents 
do  sooner  or  later,  that  his  children  were  growing  up.  ' 

"  Molly  is  getting  to  be  quite  a  woman,  and  very 
like  her  mother,"  thought  papa,  wiping  the  eye  that 
peeped,  for  he  had  been  fond  of  the  pretty  wife  who 
died  when  Boo  was  born.  "  Sad  loss  to  them,  poor 
things!  but  Miss  Bat  seems  to  have  done  well  by  them. 
Molly  is  much  improved,  and  the  boy  looks  finely. 
She 's  a  good  soul,  after  all ; "  and  Mr.  Bemis  began  to 
think  he  had  been  hasty  when  he  half  made  up  his 


DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S.  217 

mind  to  get  a  new  housekeeper,  feeling  that  burnt 
steak,  weak  coffee,  and  ragged  wristbands  were  sure 
signs  that  Miss  Bat's  days  of  usefulness  were  over. 

Molly  was  singing  the  lullaby  her  mother  used  to 
sing  to  her,  and  her  father  listened  to  it  silently  till 
Boo  was  carried  away  too  sleepy  for  anything  but  bed. 
When  she  came  back  she  sat  down  to  her  work,  fancy 
ing  her  father  still  asleep.  She  had  a  crimson  bow  at 
her  throat  and  one  on  the  newly  braided  hair,  her 
cuffs  were  clean,  and  a  white  apron  hid  the  shabbiness 
of  the  old  dress.  She  looked  like  a  thrifty  little  house 
wife  as  she  sat  with  her  basket  beside  her  full  of  neat 
white  rolls,  her  spools  set  forth,  and  a  new  pair  of 
scissors  shining  on  the  table.  There  was  a  sort  of 
charm  in  watching  the  busy  needle  flash  to  and  fro, 
the  anxious  pucker  of  the  forehead  as  she  looked  to 
see  if  the  stitches  were  even,  and  the  expression  of 
intense  relief  upon  her  face  as  she  surveyed  the  fin 
ished  button-hole  with  girlish  satisfaction.  Her  father 
was  wide  awake  and  looking  at  her,  thinking,  as  he 
did  so, — 

"  Really  the  old  lady  has  worked  well  to  change  my 
tomboy  into  that  nice  little  girl :  I  wonder  how  she  did 
it."  Then  he  gave  a  yawn,  pulled  off  the  handkerchief, 
and  said  aloud,  "  What  are  you  making,  Molly  ?  "  for 
it  struck  him  that  sewing  was  a  new  amusement. 

"  Shirts  for  Boo,  sir.  Four,  and  this  is  the  last,"  she 
answered,  with  pardonable  pride,  as  she  held  it  up  and 
nodded  toward  the  pile  in  her  basket. 

"  Is  n't  that  a  new  notion  ?  I  thought  Miss  Bat  did 
the  sewing,"  said  Mr.  Bemis,  as  he  smiled  at  the  funny 
little  garment,  it  looked  so  like  Boo  himself. 

"No,  sir;  only  yours.     I  do  mine  and  Boo's.     At 


218  JACK  AND  JILL. 

least,  I  'in  learning  how,  and  Mrs.  Pecq  says  I  get  on 
nicely,"  answered  Molly,  threading  her  needle  and 
making  a  knot  in  her  most  capable  way. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  time  you  did  learn,  for  you  are  get 
ting  to  be  a  great  girl,  and  all  women  should  know  how 
to  make  and  mend.  You  must  take  a  stitch  for  me 
now  and  then  :  Miss  Bat's  eyes  are  not  what  they  were, 
I  find ; "  and  Mr.  Bemis  looked  at  his  frayed  wristband, 
as  if  he  particularly  felt  the  need  of  a  stitch  just  then. 

"  I  'd  love  to,  and  I  guess  I  could.  I  can  mend  gloves ; 
Merry  taught  me,  so  I  'd  better  begin  on  them,  if  you 
have  any,"  said  Molly,  much  pleased  at  being  able  to 
do  anything  for  her  father,  and  still  more  so  at  being 
asked. 

"  There 's  something  to  start  with ; "  and  he  threw  her 
a  pair,  with  nearly  every  finger  ripped. 

Molly  shook  her  head  over  them,  but  got  out  her 
gray  silk  and  fell  to  work,  glad  to  show  how  well  she 
could  sew. 

"  What  are  you  smiling  about  ?"  asked  her  father, 
after  a  little  pause,  for  his  head  felt  better,  and  it 
amused  him  to  question  Molly. 

"  I  was  thinking  about  my  summer  clothes.  I  must 
get  them  before  long,  and  I  'd  like  to  go  with  Mrs. 
Grant  and  learn  how  to  shop,  if  you  are  willing." 

"  I  thought  Miss  Bat  did  that  for  you." 

"  She  always  has,  but  she  gets  ugly,  cheap  things 
that  I  don't  like.  I  think  I  am  old  enough  to  choose 
myself,  if  there  is  some  one  to  tell  me  about  prices  and 
the  goodness  of  the  stuff.  Merry  does  ;  and  she  is  only 
a  few  months  older  than  I  am." 

"  How  old  are  you,  child  ?  "  asked  her  father,  feeling 
as  if  he  had  lost  his  reckoning. 


DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S.  219 

"  Fifteen  in  August ; "  and  Molly  looked  very  proud 
of  the  fact. 

"  So  you  are  !  Bless  my  heart,  how  the  time  goes  ! 
Well,  get  what  you  please ;  if  I  'm  to  have  a  young 
lady  here,  I'd  like  to  have  her  prettily  dressed.  It 
won't  offend  Miss  Bat,  will  it?  " 

Molly's  eyes  sparkled,  but  she  gave  a  little  shrug  as 
she  answered,  "  She  won't  care.  She  never  troubles 
herself  about  me  if  I  let  her  alone." 

"  Hey  ?  what  ?  Not  trouble  herself  ?  If  she  does  n't, 
who  does  ?  "  and  Mr.  Bemis  sat  up  as  if  this  discovery 
was  more  surprising  than  the  other. 

"  I  take  care  of  myself  and  Boo,  and  she  looks  after 
you.  The  house  goes  any  way." 

"  I  should  think  so  !  I  nearly  broke  my  neck  over 
the  parlor  sofa  in  the  hall  to-night.  What  is  it  there 
for?" 

Molly  laughed.  "  That 's  the  joke,  sir,  Miss  Bat  is 
cleaning  house,  and  I  'm  sure  it  needs  cleaning,  for  it 
is  years  since  it  was  properly  done.  I  thought  you 
might  have  told  her  to." 

"  I  've  said  nothing.  Don't  like  house-cleaning  well 
enough  to  suggest  it.  I  did  think  the  hall  was  rather 
dirty  when  I  dropped  my  coat  and  took  it  up  covered 
with  lint.  Is  she  going  to  upset  the  whole  place?" 
asked  Mr.  Bemis,  looking  alarmed  at  the  prospect. 

"I  hope  so,  for  I  really  am  ashamed  when  people 
come,  to  have  them  see  the  dust  and  cobwebs,  and  old 
carpets  and  dirty  windows,"  said  Molly,  with  a  sigh, 
though  she  never  had  cared  a  bit  till  lately. 

"  Why  don't  you  dust  round  a  little,  then  ?  No  time 
to  spare  from  the  books  and  play  ?  " 

"  I  tried,  father,  but  Miss  Bat  did  n't  like  it,  and  it 


220  JACK  AND    JILL. 

was  too  hard  for  me  alone.  If  things  were  once  in 
nice  order,  I  think  I  could  keep  them  so ;  for  I  do 
want  to  be  neat,  and  I  'in  learning  as  fast  as  I  can." 

"  It  is  high  time  some  one  took  hold,  if  matters  are 
left  as  you  say.  I  've  just  been  thinking  what  a  clever 
woman  Miss  Bat  was,  to  make  such  a  tidy  little  girl 
out  of  what  I  used  to  hear  called  the  greatest  tom 
boy  in  town,  and  wondering  what  I  could  give  the  old 
lady.  Now  I  find  you  are  the  one  to  be  thanked,  and 
it  is  a  very  pleasant  surprise  to  me." 

"  Give  her  the  present,  please ;  I  'm  satisfied,  if  you 
like  what  I  Ve  done.  It  is  n't  much,  and  I  did  n't 
know  as  you  would  ever  observe  any  difference.  But 
I  did  try,  and  now  I  guess  I  'm  really  getting  on,"  said 
Molly,  sewing  away  with  a  bright  color  in  her  cheeks, 
for  she,  too,  found  it  a  pleasant  surprise  to  be  praised 
after  many  failures  and  few  successes. 

"  You  certainly  are,  my  dear.  I  '11  wait  till  the 
house-cleaning  is  over,  and  then,  if  we  are  all  alive, 
I  '11  see  about  Miss  Bat's  reward.  Meantime,  you  go 
with  Mrs.  Grant  and  get  whatever  you  and  the  boy 
need,  and  send  the  bills  to  me ;  "  and  Mr.  Bemis  lighted 
a  cigar,  as  if  that  matter  was  settled. 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  sir !  That  will  be  splendid.  Merry 
always  has  pretty  things,  and  I  know  you  will  like  me 
when  I  get  fixed,"  said  Molly,  smoothing  down  her 
apron,  with  a  little  air. 

"  Seems  to  me  you  look  very  well  as  you  are.  Is  n't 
that  a  pretty  enough  frock,"  asked  Mr.  Bemis,  quite 
unconscious  that  his  own  unusual  interest  in  his 
daughter's  affairs  made  her  look  so  bright  and  win 
some. 

"  This  ?    Why,  father,  I  Ve  worn  it  all  winter,  and 


DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S.  22l 

• 

it 's  frightfully  ugly,  and  almost  in  rags.  I  asked  you 
for  a  new  one  a  month  ago,  and  you  said  you  'd  « see 
about  it ; '  but  you  did  n't,  so  I  patched  this  up  as  well 
as  I  could;"  and  Molly  showed  her  elbows,  feeling 
that  such  masculine  blindness  as  this  deserved  a  mild 
reproof. 

"  Too  bad !  Well,  go  and  get  half  a  dozen  pretty 
muslin  and  gingham  things,  and  be  as  gay  as  a  but 
terfly,  to  make  up  for  it,"  laughed  her  father,  really 
touched  by  the  patches  and  Molly's  resignation  to  the 
unreliable  "  I  '11  see  about  it,"  which  he  recognized  as 
a  household  word. 

Molly  clapped  her  hands,  old  gloves  and  all,  ex 
claiming,  with  girlish  delight,  "  How  nice  it  will  seem 
to  have  a  plenty  of  new,  neat  dresses  all  at  once,  and 
be  like  other  girls !  Miss  Bat  always  talks  about 
economy,  and  has  no  more  taste  than  a  —  caterpillar." 
Molly  meant  to  say  "  cat,"  but  remembering  her  pets, 
spared  them  the  insult. 

"I  think  I  can  afford  to  dress  my  girl  as  well  as 
Grant  does  his.  Get  a  new  hat  and  coat,  child,  and 
any  little  notions  you  fancy.  Miss  Bat's  economy 
isn't  the  sort  I  like;"  and  Mr.  Bemis  looked  at  his 
wristbands  again,  as  if  he  could  sympathize  with 
Molly's  elbows. 

"  At  this  rate,  I  shall  have  more  clothes  than  I  know 
what  to  do  with,  after  being  a  rag-bag,"  thought  the 
girl,  in  great  glee,  as  she  bravely  stitched  away  at  the 
worst  glove,  while  her  father  smoked  silently  for  a 
while,  feeling  that  several  little  matters  had  escaped 
his  eye  which  he  really  ought  to  "  see  about." 

Presently  he  went  to  his  desk,  but  not  to  bury  him 
self  in  business  papers,  as  usual,  for,  after  rummaging 


222  JACK  AND  JILL. 

in  several  drawers,  he  took  out  a  small  bunch  of  keys, 
and  sat  looking  at  them  with  an  expression  only  seen  on 
his  face  when  he  looked  up  at  the  portrait  of  a  dark- 
eyed  woman  hanging  in  his  room.  He  was  a  very 
busy  man,  but  he  had  a  tender  place  in  his  heart  for 
his  children  ;  and  when  a  look,  a  few  words,  a  moment's 
reflection,  called  his  attention  to  the  fact  that  his  little 
girl  was  growing  up,  he  found  both  pride  and  pleasure 
in  the  thought  that  this  young  daughter  was  trying  to 
fill  her  mother's  place,  and  be  a  comfort  to  him,  if  he 
would  let  her. 

"Molly,  my  dear,  here  is  something  for  you,"  he 
said ;  and  when  she  stood  beside  him,  added,  as  he  put 
the  keys  into  her  hand,  keeping  both  in  his  own  for  a 
minute,  — 

"Those  are  the  keys  to  your  mother's  things.  I 
always  meant  you  to  have  them,  when  you  were  old 
enough  to  use  or  care  for  them.  I  think  you  '11  fancy 
.this  better  than  any  other  present,  for  you  are  a  good 
child,  and  very  like  her." 

Something  seemed  to  get  into  his  throat  there,  and 
Molly  put  her  arm  round  his  neck,  saying,  with  a  little 
choke  in  her  own  voice,  "  Thank  you,  father,  I  'd 
rather  have  this  than  anything  else  in  the  world,  and 
I  '11  try  to  be  more  like  her  every  day,  for  your  sake." 

He  kissed  her,  then  said,  as  he  began  to  stir  his 
papers  about,  "  I  must  write  some  letters.  Run  off  to 
bed,  child.  Good-night,  my  dear,  good-night." 

Seeing  that  he  wanted  to  be  alone,  Molly  slipped 
away,  feeling  that  she  had  received  a  very  precious 
gift ;  for  she  remembered  the  dear,  dead  mother,  and 
had  often  longed  to  possess  the  relics  laid  away  in  the 
one  room  where  order  reigned  and  Miss  Bat  had  no 


DOWN  AT  MOLLY'S.  223 

power  to  meddle.  As  she  slowly  undressed,  she  was 
not  thinking  of  the  pretty  new  gowns  in  which  she 
was  to  be  "as  gay  as  a  butterfly,"  but  of  the  half- 
worn  garments  waiting  for  her  hands  to  unfold  with 
a  tender  touch  ;  and  when  she  fell  asleep,  with  the  keys 
under  her  pillow  and  her  arms  round  Boo,  a  few 
happy  tears  on  her  cheeks  seemed  to  show  that,  in 
trying  to  do  the  duty  which  lay  nearest  her,  she  had 
earned  a  very  sweet  reward. 

So  the  little  missionaries  succeeded  better  in  their 
second  attempt  than  in  their  first ;  for,  though  still  very 
far  from  being  perfect  girls,  each  was  slowly  learning, 
in  her  own  way,  one  of  the  three  lessons  all  are  the 
better  for  knowing, —  that  cheerfulness  can  change  mis 
fortune  into  love  and  friends ;  that  in  ordering  one's 
self  aright  one  helps  others  to  do  the  same ;  and  that 
the  power  of  finding  beauty  in  the  humblest  things 
makes  home  happy  and  life  lovely. 


CHAPTER    XVIIL 
MAY  BASKETS. 

OPRING  was  late  that  year,  but  to  Jill  it  seemed 
*-- '  the  loveliest  she  had  ever  known,  for  hope  was 
growing  green  and  strong  in  her  own  little  heart,  and 
all  the  world  looked  beautiful.  With  the  help  of  the 
brace  she  could  sit  up  for  a  short  time  every  day,  and 
when  the  air  was  mild  enough  she  was  warmly  wrapped 
and  allowed  to  look  out  at  the  open  window  into  the 
garden,  where  the  gold  and  purple  crocuses  were  com 
ing  bravely  up,  and  the  snowdrops  nodded  their  deli 
cate  heads  as  if  calling  to  her,  — 

"  Good  day,  little  sister,  come  out  and  play  with  us, 
for  winter  is  over  and  spring  is  here." 

"  I  wish  I  could ! "  thought  Jill,  as  the  soft  wind 
kissed  a  tinge  of  color  into  her  pale  cheeks.  "  Never 
mind,  they  have  been  shut  up  in  a  darker  place  than  I' 
for  months,  and  had  no  fun  at  all ;  I  won't  fret,  but 
think  about  July  and  the  seashore  while  I  work." 

The  job  now  in  hand  was  May  baskets,  for  it  was 
the  custom  of  the  children  to  hang  them  on  the  doors 
of  their  friends  the  night  before  May-day ;  and  the  girls 
had  agreed  to  supply  baskets  if  the  boys  would  hunt 
for  flowers,  much  the  harder  task  of  the  two.  Jill  had 
more  leisure  as  well  as  taste  and  skill  than  the  other 
girls,  so  she  amused  herself  with  making  a  goodly 


MAY  BASKETS.  225 

store  of  pretty  baskets  of  all  shapes,  sizes,  and  colors, 
quite  confident  that  they  would  be  filled,  though  not  a 
flower  had  shown  its  head  except  a  few  hardy  dande 
lions,  and  here  and  there  a  small  cluster  of  saxifrage. 

The  violets  would  not  open  their  blue  eyes  till  the 
sunshine  was  warmer,  the  columbines  refused  to  dance 
with  the  boisterous  east  wind,  the  ferns  kept  them 
selves  rolled  up  in  their  brown  flannel  jackets,  and 
little  Hepatica,  with  many  another  spring  beauty,  hid 
away  in  the  woods,  afraid  to  venture  out,  in  spite  of 
the  eager  welcome  awaiting  them.  But  the  birds  had 
come,  punctual  as  ever,  and  the  bluejays  were  scream 
ing  in  the  orchard,  robins  were  perking  up  their  heads 
and  tails  as  they  went  house-hunting,  purple  finches  in 
their  little  red  hoods  were  feasting  on  the  spruce  buds, 
and  the  faithful  chip  birds  chirped  gayly  on  the  grape 
vine  trellis  where  they  had  lived  all  winter,  warming 
their  little  gray  breasts  against  the  southern  side  of  the 
house  when  the  sun  shone,  and  hiding  under  the  ever 
green  boughs  when  the  snow  fell. 

"  That  tree  is  a  sort  of  bird's  hotel,"  said  Jill,  look 
ing  out  at  the  tall  spruce  before  her  window,  every 
spray  now  tipped  with  a  soft  green.  "  They  all  go 
there  to  sleep  and  eat,  and  it  has  room  for  every  one. 
It  is  green  when  other  trees  die,  the  wind  can't  break 
it,  and  the  snow  only  makes  it  look  prettier.  It  sings 
to  me,  and  nods  as  if  it  knew  I  loved  it." 

"  We  might  call  it  '  The  Holly  Tree  Inn,'  as  some  of 
the  cheap  eating-houses  for  poor  people  are  called  in 
the  city,  as  my  holly  bush  grows  at  its  foot  for  a  sign. 
You  can  be  the  landlady,  and  feed  your  feathery 
customers  every  day,  till  the  hard  times  are  over," 
said  Mrs.  Minot,  glad  to  see  the  child's  enjoyment  of 


226  JACK  AND  JILL. 

the  outer  world  from  which  she  had  been  shut  so 
long. 

Jill  liked  the  fancy,  and  gladly  strewed  crumbs  on  the 
window-ledge  for  the  chippies,  who  came  confidingly 
to  eat  almost  from  her  hand.  She  threw  out  grain  for 
the  handsome  jays,  the  jaunty  robins,  and  the  neigh 
bors'  doves,  who  came  with  soft  flight  to  trip  about  on 
their  pink  feet,  arching  their  shining  necks  as  they 
cooed  and  pecked.  Carrots  and  cabbage-leaves  also 
flew  out  of  the  window  for  the  marauding  gray  rabbit, 
last  of  all  Jack's  half-dozen,  who  led  him  a  weary  life 
of  it  because  they  would  not  stay  in  the  Bunny-house, 
but  undermined  the  garden  with  their  burrows,  ate 
the  neighbors'  plants,  and  refused  to  be  caught  till  all 
but  one  ran  away,  to  Jack's  great  relief.  This  old 
fellow  camped  out  for  the  winter,  and  seemed  to  get  on 
very  well  among  the  cats  and  the  hens,  who  shared 
their  stores  with  him,  and  he  might  be  seen  at  all 
hours  of  the  day  and  night  scampering  about  the  place, 
or  kicking  up  his  heels  by  moonlight,  for  he  was  a  des 
perate  poacher. 

Jill  took  great  delight  in  her  pretty  pensioners,  who 
soon  learned  to  love  "The  Holly  Tree  Inn,"  and  to 
feel  that  the  Bird  Room  held  a  caged  comrade ;  for, 
when  it  was  too  cold  or  wet  to  open  the  windows,  the 
doves  came  and  tapped  at  the  pane,  the  chippies  sat  on 
the  ledge  in  plump  little  bunches  as  if  she  were  their 
sunshine,  the  jays  called  her  in  their  shrill  voices  to 
ring  the  dinner-bell,  and  the  robins  tilted  on  the  spruce 
boughs  where  lunch  was  always  to  be  had. 

The  first  of  May  came  on  Sunday,  so  all  the  cele 
brating  must  be  done  on  Saturday,  which  happily 
proved  fair,  though  too  chilly  for  muslin  gowns,  paper 


MAY  BASKETS.  227 

garlands,  and  picnics  on  damp  grass.  Being  a  holiday, 
the  boys  decided  to  devote  the  morning  to  ball  and 
the  afternoon  to  the  flower  hunt,  while  the  girls  fin 
ished  the  baskets ;  and  in  the  evening  our  particular 
seven  were  to  meet  at  the  Minots  to  fill  them,  ready 
for  the  closing  frolic  of  hanging  on  door-handles,  ring 
ing  bells,  and  running  away. 

"  Now  I  must  do  my  Maying,  for  there  will  be  no 
more  sunshine,  and  I  want  to  pick  my  flowers  before  it 
is  dark.  Come,  Mammy,  you  go  too,"  said  Jill,  as  the 
last  sunbeams  shone  in  at  the  western  window  where 
her  hyacinths  stood  that  no  fostering  ray  might  be  lost. 

It  was  rather  pathetic  to  see  the  once  merry  girl 
who  used  to  be  the  life  of  the  wood-parties  now  care 
fully  lifting  herself  from  the  couch,  and,  leaning  on  her 
mother's  strong  arm,  slowly  take  the  half-dozen  steps 
that  made  up  her  little  expedition.  But  she  was 
happy,  and  stood  smiling  out  at  old  Bun  skipping 
down  the  walk,  the  gold-edged  clouds  that  drew  apart 
so  that  a  sunbeam  might  give  her  a  good-night  kiss  as 
she  gathered  her  long-cherished  daisies,  primroses,  and 
hyacinths  to  fill  the  pretty  basket  in  her  hand. 

"  Who  is  it  for,  my  dearie  ? "  asked  her  mother, 
standing  behind  her  as  a  prop,  while  the  thin  fingers  did 
their  work  so  willingly  that  not  a  flower  was  left. 

"  For  My  Lady,  of  course.  Who  else  would  I  give 
my  posies  to,  when  I  love  them  so  well?"  answered  Jill, 
who  thought  no  name  too  fine  for  their  best  friend. 

"  I  fancied  it  would  be  for  Master  Jack,"  said  her 
mother,  wishing  the  excursion  to  be  a  cheerful  one. 

"  I  've  another  for  him,  but  she  must  have  the  pret 
tiest.  He  is  going  to  hang  it  for  me,  and  ring  and  run 
away,  and  she  won't  know  who  it 's  from  till  she  sees 


228  JACK  AND  JILL. 

this.  She  will  remember  it,  for  I  've  been  turning  and 
tending  it  ever  so  long,  to  make  it  bloom  to-day.  Is  n't 
it  a  beauty?"  and  Jill  held  up  her  finest  hyacinth, 
which  seemed  to  ring  its  pale  pink  bells  as  if  glad  to 
carry  its  sweet  message  from  a  grateful  little  heart. 

"  Indeed  it  is ;  and  you  are  right  to  give  your  best 
to  her.  Come  away  now,  you  must  not  stand  any 
longer.  Come  and  rest  while  I  fetch  a  dish  to  put  the 
flowers  in  till  you  want  them ; "  and  Mrs.  Pecq  turned 
her  round  with  her  small  Maying  safely  done. 

"  I  did  n't  think  I'd  ever  be  able  to  do  even  so  much, 
and  here  I  am  walking  and  sitting  up,  and  going  to 
drive  some  day.  Is  n't  it  nice  that  I  'm  not  to  be  a 
poor  Lucinda  after  all?"  and  Jill  drew  a  long  sigh  of 
relief  that  six  months  instead  of  twenty  years  would 
probably  be  the  end  of  her  captivity. 

"  Yes,  thank  Heaven  !  I  don't  think  I  could  have 
borne  that ;"  and  the  mother  took  Jill  in  her  arms  as  if 
she  were  a  baby,  holding  her  close  for  a  minute,  and 
laying  her  down  with  a  tender  kiss  that  made  the  arms 
cling  about  her  neck  as  her  little  girl  returned  it 
heartily,  for  all  sorts  of  new,  sweet  feelings  seemed  to  be 
budding  in  both,  born  of  great  joy  and  thankfulness. 

Then  Mrs.  Pecq  hurried  away  to  see  about  tea  for 
the  hungry  boys,  and  Jill  watched  the  pleasant  twi 
light  deepen  as  she  lay  singing  to  herself  one  of  the 
songs  her  friend  taught  her  because  it  fitted  her  so 
well. 

"  A  little  bird  I  am, 

Shut  from  the  fields  <vF  Rir; 
And  in  my  cage  I  <•          ,        "• 

To  Him  who  pla^<_ 
Well  pleased  a  prisoner  to  LK 
Because,  my  God,  it  pleases  Thee . 


MAY  BASKETS.  229 

"  Naught  have  I  else  to  do ; 

I  sing  the  whole  day  long; 
And  He  whom  most  I  love  to  please 

Doth  listen  to  my  song  ; 
He  caught  and  bound  my  wandering  wing, 
But  still  He  bends  to  hear  me  sing." 

"Now  we  are  ready  for  you,  so  bring  on  your 
flowers,"  said  Molly  to  the  boys,  as  she  and  Merry 
added  their  store  of  baskets  to  the  gay  show  Jill 
had  set  forth  on  the  long  table  ready  for  the  even 
ing's  work. 

"  They  would  n't  let  me  see  one,  but  I  guess  they 
have  had  good  luck,  they  look  so  jolly,"  answered  Jill, 
looking  at  Gus,  Frank,  and  Jack,  who  stood  laughing, 
each  with  a  large  basket  in  his  hands. 

"  Fair  to  middling.  Just  look  in  and  see  ; "  with 
which  cheerful  remark  Gus  tipped  up  his  basket  and 
displayed  a  few  bits  of  green  at  the  bottom. 

"I  did  better.  Now,  don't  all  scream  at  once  over 
these  beauties  ;  "  and  Frank  shook  out  some  evergreen 
sprigs,  half  a  dozen  saxifrages,  and  two  or  three  forlorn 
violets  with  hardly  any  stems. 

"  I  don't  brag,  but  here  's  the  best  of  all  the  three," 
chuckled  Jack,  producing  a  bunch  of  feathery  carrot- 
tops,  with  a  few  half-shut  dandelions  trying  to  look 
brave  and  gay. 

"  Oh,  boys,  is  that  all  ?  " 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?  " 

"We've  only  a  few  house-flowers,  and  all  those 
baskets  to  fill,"  cried  the  girls,  in  despair ;  for  Merry's 
contribution  had  bo-'  "-mall,  and  Molly  had  only  a 
handful  of  artificial  flowers  "  to  fill  up,"  she  said. 

"  It  is  n't  our  fault :  it  is  the  late  spring.     We  can't 


230  JACK  AND  JILL. 

make  flowers,  can  we  ?  "  asked  Frank,  in  a  tone  of  calm 
resignation. 

"  Could  n't  you  buy  some,  then  ?  "  said  Molly,  smooth 
ing  her  crumpled  morning-glories,  with  a  sigh. 

"  Who  ever  heard  of  a  fellow  having  any  money  left 
the  last  day  of  the  month  ?  "  demanded  Gus,  severely. 

"  Or  girls  either.  I  spent  all  mine  in  ribbon  and 
paper  for  my  baskets,  and  now  they  are  of  no  use. 
It 's  a  shame  !  "  lamented  Jill,  while  Merry  began  to 
thin  out  her  full  baskets  to  fill  the  empty  ones. 

"  Hold  on  !  "  cried  Frank,  relenting.  "  Now,  Jack, 
make  their  minds  easy  before  they  begin  to  weep  and 
wail." 

"  Left  the  box  outside.  You  tell  while  I  go  for  it ;  " 
and  Jack  bolted,  as  if  afraid  the  young  ladies  might  be 
too  demonstrative  when  the  tale  was  told. 

"  Tell  away,"  said  Frank,  modestly  passing  the 
story  along  to  Gus,  who  made  short  work  of  it. 

"  We  rampaged  all  over  the  country,  and  got  only 
that  small  mess  of  greens.  Knew  you  'd  be  disgusted, 
and  sat  down  to  see  what  we  could  do.  Then  Jack 
piped  up,  and  said  he  'd  show  us  a  place  where  we  could 
get  a  plenty.  *  Come  on,'  said  we,  and  after  leading  us 
a  nice  tramp,  he  brought  us  out  at  Morse's  greenhouse. 
So  we  got  a  few  on  tick,  as  we  had  but  four  cents 
among  us,  and  there  you  are.  Pretty  clever  of  the 
little  chap,  wasn't  it?" 

A  chorus  of  delight  greeted  Jack  as  he  popped  his 
head  in,  was  promptly  seized  by  his  elders  and  walked 
up  to  the  table,  where  the  box  was  opened,  displaying 
gay  posies  enough  to  fill  most  of  the  baskets  if  dis 
tributed  with  great  economy  and  much  green. 

"You  are  the  dearest  boy  that  ever  was!  "began 


MAY  BASKETS.  231 

Jill,  with  her  nose  luxuriously  buried  in  the  box, 
though  the  flowers  were  more  remarkable  for  color 
than  perfume. 

"  No,  I  'm  not ;  there  's  a  much  dearer  one  coming 
upstairs  now,  and  he 's  got  something  that  will 
make  you  howl  for  joy,"  said  Jack,  ignoring  his  own 
prowess  as  Ed  came  in  with  a  bigger  box,  looking  as  if 
he  had  done  nothing  but  go  a  Maying  all  his  days. 

"  Don't  believe  it ! "  cried  Jill,  hugging  her  own 
treasure  jealously. 

"It 's  only  another  joke.  I  won't  look,"  said  Molly, 
still  struggling  to  make  her  cambric  roses  bloom 
again. 

"  I  know  what  it  is  !  Oh,  how  sweet !  "  added  Merry, 
sniffing,  as  Ed  set  the  box  before  her,  saying  plea 
santly,  — 

"  You  shall  see  first,  because  you  had  faith." 

Up  went  the  cover,  and  a  whiff  of  the  freshest  fra 
grance  regaled  the  seven  eager  noses  bent  to  inhale  it, 
as  a  general  murmur  of  pleasure  greeted  the  nest  of 
great,  rosy  mayflowers  that  lay  before  them. 

"The  dear  things,  how  lovely  they  are  !  "  and  Merry 
looked  as  if  greeting  her  cousins,  so  blooming  and 
sweet  was  her  own  face. 

Molly  pushed  her  dingy  garlands  away,  ashamed  of 
such  poor  attempts  beside  these  perfect  works  of  na 
ture,  and  Jill  stretched  out  her  hand  involuntarily,  as 
she  said,  forgetting  her  exotics,  "  Give  me  just  one  to 
smell  of,  it  is  so  woodsy  and  delicious." 

"  Here  you  are,  plenty  for  all.  Real  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
right  from  Plymouth.  One  of  our  fellows  lives  there, 
and  I  told  him  to  bring  me  a  good  lot ;  so  he  did,  and 
you  can  do  what  you  like  with  them,"  explained  Ed, 


232  JACK  AND  JILL. 

passing  round  bunches  and  shaking  the  rest  in  a  mossy 
pile  upon  the  table. 

"Ed  always  gets  ahead  of  us  in  doing  the  right 
thing  at  the  right  time.  Hope  you've  got  some  first- 
class  baskets  ready  for  him,"  said  Gus,  refreshing  the 
Washingtonian  nose  with  a  pink  blossom  or  two. 

"  Not  much  clanger  of  his  being  forgotten,"  answered 
Molly ;  and  every  one  laughed,  for  Ed  was  much  be 
loved  by  all  the  girls,  and  his  door-steps  always  bloomed 
like  a  flower-bed  on  May  eve. 

"  Now  we  must  fly  round  and  fill  up.  Come,  boys, 
sort  out  the  green  and  hand  us  the  flowers  as  we  want 
them.  Then  we  must  direct  them,  and,  by  the  time 
that  is  done,  you  can  go  and  leave  them,"  said  Jill, 
setting  all  to  work. 

"  Ed  must  choose  his  baskets  first.  These  are  ours ; 
but  any  of  those  you  can  have ;"  and  Molly  pointed  to 
a  detachment  of  gay  baskets,  set  apart  from  those 
already  partly  filled. 

Ed  chose  a  blue  one,  and  Merry  filled  it  with  the 
rosiest  mayflowers,  knowing  that  it  was  to  hang  on 
Mabel's  door-handle. 

The  others  did  the  same,  and  the  pretty  work  went 
on,  with  much  fun,  till  all  were  tilled,  and  ready  for 
the  names  or  notes. 

"  Let  us  have  poetry,  as  we  can't  get  wild  flowers. 
That  will  be  rather  fine,"  proposed  Jill,  who  liked 
jingles. 

All  had  had  some  practice  at  the  game  parties,  and 
pencils  went  briskly  for  a  few  minutes,  while  silence 
reigned,  as  the  poets  racked  their  brains  for  rhymes, 
and  stared  at  the  blooming  array  before  them  for 
inspiration. 


MAY  BASKETS.  233 

"  Oh,  dear !  I  can't  find  a  word  to  rhyme  to  '  gera 
nium,'  "  sighed  Molly,  pulling  her  braid,  as  if  to  pump 
the  well  of  her  fancy  dry. 

"  Cranium,"  said  Frank,  who  was  getting  on  bravely 
with  "  Annette  "  and  "  violet." 

"  That  is  elegant ! "  and  Molly  scribbled  away  in 
great  glee,  for  her  poems  were  always  funny  ones. 

"  How  do  you  spell  anemoly,  —  the  wild  flower,  I 
mean?"  asked  Jill,  who  was  trying  to  compose  a  very 
appropriate  piece  for  her  best  basket,  and  found  it 
easier  to  feel  love  and  gratitude  than  to  put  them  into 
verse. 

"  Anemone  ;  do  spell  it  properly,  or  you  '11  get  laughed 
at,"  answered  Gus,  wildly  struggling  to  make  his  lines 
express  great  ardor,  without  being  "too  spoony,"  as 
he  expressed  it. 

"  No,  I  should  n't.  This  person  never  laughs  at  other 
persons'  mistakes,  as  some  persons  do,"  replied  Jill, 
with  dignity. 

Jack  was  desperately  chewing  his  pencil,  for  he 
could  not  get  on  at  all ;  but  Ed  had  evidently  pre 
pared  his  poem,  for  his  paper  was  half  full  already, 
and  Merry  was  smiling  as  she  wrote  a  friendly  line  or 
two  for  Ralph's  basket,  as  she  feared  he  would  be 
forgotten,  and  knew  he  loved  kindness  even  more  than 
he  did  beauty. 

"  Now  let 's  read  them,"  proposed  Molly,  who  loved 
to  laugh  even  at  herself. 

The  boys  politely  declined,  and  scrambled  their 
notes  into  the  chosen  baskets  in  great  haste ;  but  the 
girls  were  less  bashful.  Jill  was  invited  to  begin,  and 
gave  her  little  piece,  with  the  pink  hyacinth  basket 
before  her,  to  illustrate  her  poem. 


234  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"TO  MY  LADY. 

"  There  are  no  flowers  in  the  fields, 

No  green  leaves  on  the  tree, 
No  columbines,  no  violets, 

No  sweet  anemone. 
So  I  have  gathered  from  my  pots 

All  that  I  have  to  fill 
The  basket  that  I  hang  to-night, 

With  heaps  of  love  from  Jill." 

"  That 's  perfectly  sweet !  Mine  is  n't ;  but  I  meant 
it  to  be  funny,"  said  Molly,  as  if  there  could  be  any 
doubt  about  the  following  ditty  :  — 

"  Dear  Grif, 

Here  is  a  whiff 
Of  beautiful  spring  flowers ; 

The  big  red  rose 

Is  for  your  nose, 
As  toward  the  sky  it  towers. 

"  Oh,  do  not  frown 

Upon  this  crown 
Of  green  pinks  and  blue  geranium ; 

But  think  of  me 

When  this  you  see, 
And  put  it  on  your  cranium." 

"O  Molly,  you  will  never  hear  the  last  of  that  if 
Grif  gets  it,"  said  Jill,  as  the  applause  subsided,  for 
the  boys  pronounced  it  "  tip-top." 

"  Don't  care,  he  gets  the  worst  of  it  any  way,  for 
there  is  a  pin  in  that  rose,  and  if  he  goes  to  smell  the 
mayflowers  underneath  he  will  find  a  thorn  to  pay  for 
the  tack  he  put  in  my  rubber  boot.  I  know  he  will 
play  me  some  joke  to-night,  and  I  mean  to  be  first  if  I 
can,"  answered  Molly,  settling  the  artificial  wreath 


MAY  BASKETS.  235 

round  the  orange-colored  canoe  which  held  her  effu 
sion. 

"  Now,  Merry,  read  yours  :  you  always  have  sweet 
poems  ; "  and  Jill  folded  her  hands  to  listen  with  pleas 
ure  to  something  sentimental. 

"  I  can't  read  the  poems  in  some  of  mine,  because 
they  are  for  you ;  but  this  little  verse  you  can  hear,  if 
you  like  :  I  'm  going  to  give  that  basket  to  Ralph.  He 
said  he  should  hang  one  for  his  grandmother,  and  I 
thought  that  was  so  nice  of  him,  I  'd  love  to  surprise 
him  with  one  all  to  himself.  He 's  always  so  good  to 
us  ; "  and  Merry  looked  so  innocently  earnest  that  no 
one  smiled  at  her  kind  thought  or  the  unconscious 
paraphrase  she  had  made  of  a  famous  stanza  in  her 
own  "  little  verse." 

"  To  one  who  teaches  me 
The  sweetness  and  the  beauty 

Of  doing  faithfully 
And  cheerfully  my  duty." 

"  He  will  like  that,  and  know  who  sent  it,  for  none 
of  us  have  pretty  pink  paper  but  you,  or  write  such  an 
elegant  hand,"  said  Molly,  admiring  the  delicate  white 
basket  shaped  like  a  lily,  with  the  flowers  inside  and 
the  note  hidden  among  them,  all  daintily  tied  up  with 
the  palest  blush-colored  ribbon. 

"  Well,  that 's  no  harm.  He  likes  pretty  things  as 
much  as  I  do,  and  I  made  my  basket  like  a  flower 
because  I  gave  him  one  of  my  callas,  he  admired  the 
shape  so  much  ; "  and  Merry  smiled  as  she  remembered 
how  pleased  Ralph  looked  as  he  went  away  carrying 
the  lovely  thing. 

"I  think  it  would  be  a  good  plan  to  hang  some  bas 
kets  on  the  doors  of  other  people  who  don't  expect  or 


236  JACK  AND  JILL. 

often  have  any.  I  '11  do  it  if  you  can  spare  some  of 
these,  we  have  so  many.  Give  me  only  one,  and  let 
the  others  go  to  old  Mrs.  Tucker,  and  the  little  Irish 
girl  who  has  been  sick  so  long,  and  lame  Neddy,  and 
Daddy  Munson.  It  would  please  and  surprise  them 
so.  Will  we  ?  "  asked  Ed,  in  that  persuasive  voice  of 
his. 

All  agreed  at  once,  and  several  people  were  made 
very  happy  by  a  bit  of  spring  left  at  their  doors  by  the 
May  elves  who  haunted  the  town  that  night  playing 
all  sorts  of  pranks.  Such  a  twanging  of  bells  and  rap 
ping  of  knockers ;  such  a  scampering  of  feet  in  the 
dark;  such  droll  collisions  as  boys  came  racing  round 
corners,  or  girls  ran  into  one  another's  arms  as  they 
crept  up  and  down  steps  on  the  sly ;  such  laughing, 
whistling,  flying  about  of  flowers  and  friendly  feeling, 
—  it  was  almost  a  pity  that  May-day  did  not  come 
oftener. 

Molly  got  home  late,  and  found  that  Grif  had  been 
before  her,  after  all ;  for  she  stumbled  over  a  market- 
basket  at  her  door,  and  on  taking  it  in  found  a  mam 
moth  nosegay  of  purple  and  white  cabbages,  her 
favorite  vegetable.  Even  Miss  Bat  laughed  at  the 
funny  sight,  and  Molly  resolved  to  get  Ralph  to  carve 
her  a  bouquet  out  of  carrots,  beets,  and  turnips  for 
next  time,  as  Grif  would  never  think  of  that. 

Merry  ran  up  the  garden-walk  alone,  for  Frank  left 
her  at  the  gate,  and  was  fumbling  for  the  latch  when 
she  felt  something  hanging  there.  Opening  the  door 
carefully,  she  found  it  gay  with  offerings  from  her 
mates ;  and  among  them  was  one  long  quiver-shaped 
basket  of  birch  bark,  with  something  heavy  under  the 
green  leaves  that  lay  at  the  top.  Lifting  these,  a  slender 


MAY  BASKETS.  237 

bass-relief  of  a  calla  lily  in  plaster  appeared,  with  this 
couplet  slipped  into  the  blue  cord  by  which  it  was  to 
hang :  — 

"That  mercy  you  to  others  show 
That  Mercy  Grant  to  me." 

"  How  lovely !  and  this  one  will  never  fade,  but 
always  be  a  pleasure  hanging  there.  Now,  I  really 
have  something  beautiful  all  my  own,"  said  Merry  to 
herself  as  she  ran  up  to  hang  the  pretty  thing  on  the 
dark  wainscot  of  her  room,  where  the  graceful  curve  of 
its  pointed  leaves  and  the  depth  of  its  white  cup  would 
be  a  joy  to  her  eyes  as  long  as  they  lasted. 

"  I  wonder  what  that  means,"  and  Merry  read  over 
the  lines  again,  while  a  soft  color  came  into  her  cheeks 
and  a  little  smile  of  girlish  pleasure  began  to  dimple 
round  her  lips ;  for  she  was  so  romantic,  this  touch  of 
sentiment  showed  her  that  her  friendship  was  more 
valued  than  she  dreamed.  But  she  only  said,  "  How 
glad  I  am  I  remembered  him,  and  how  surprised  he 
will  be  to  see  mayflowers  in  return  for  the  lily." 

He  was,  and  worked  away  more  happily  and  bravely 
for  the  thought  of  the  little  friend  whose  eyes  would 
daily  fall  on  the  white  flower  which  always  reminded 
him  of  her. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

GOOD   TEMPLARS. 

"  T  TI  there !  bell 's  rung  !  get  up,  lazy-bones ! "  called 
-*-  -L  Frank  from  his  room  as  the  clock  struck  six 
one  bright  morning,  and  a  great  creaking  and  stamp 
ing  proclaimed  that  he  was  astir. 

"All  right,  I  'm  coming,"  responded  a  drowsy  voice, 
and  Jack  turned  over  as  if  to  obey;  but  there  the 
effort  ended,  and  he  was  off  again,  for  growing  lads  are 
hard  to  rouse,  as  many  a  mother  knows  to  her  sorrow. 

Frank  made  a  beginning  on  his  own  toilet,  and  then 
took  a  look  at  his  brother,  for  the  stillness  was  suspi 
cious. 

"  I  thought  so !  he  told  me  to  wake  him,  and  I  guess 
this  will  do  it ; "  and,  filling  his  great  sponge  with  water, 
Frank  stalked  into  the  next  room  and  stood  over  the 
unconscious  victim  like  a  stern  executioner,  glad  to 
unite  business  with  pleasure  in  this  agreeable  manner. 

A  woman  would  have  relented  and  tried  some  milder 
means,  for  when  his  broad  shoulders  and  stout  limbs 
were  hidden,  Jack  looked  very  young  and  innocent  in 
his  sleep.  Even  Frank  paused  a  moment  to  look  at 
the  round,  rosy  face,  the  curly  eyelashes,  half-open 
mouth,  and  the  peaceful  expression  of  a  dreaming 
baby.  "  I  must  do  it,  or  he  won't  be  ready  for  break- 


GOOD   TEMPLARS.  239 

fast,"  said  the  Spartan  brother,  and  down  came  the 
sponge,  cold,  wet,  and  choky,  as  it  was  briskly  rubbed 
to  and  fro  regardless  of  every  obstacle. 

"  Come,  I  say  !  that 's  not  fair !  Leave  me  alone  !  " 
sputtered  Jack,  hitting  out  so  vigorously  that  the 
sponge  flew  across  the  room,  and  Frank  fell  back  to 
laugh  at  the  indignant  sufferer. 

"  I  promised  to  wake  you,  and  you  believe  in  keep 
ing  promises,  so  I  'm  doing  my  best  to  get  you  up." 

"  Well,  you  need  n't  pour  a  quart  of  water  down  a 
fellow's  neck,  and  rub  his  nose  off,  need  you  ?  I'm 
awake,  so  take  your  old  sponge  and  go  along,"  growled 
Jack,  with  one  eye  open  and  a  mighty  gape. 

"  See  that  you  keep  so,  then,  or  I  '11  come  and  give 
you  another  sort  of  a  rouser,"  said  Frank,  retiring  well 
pleased  with  his  success. 

"I  shall  have  one  good  stretch,  if  I  like.  It  is 
strengthening  to  the  muscles,  and  I  'm  as  stiff  as  a 
board  with  all  that  foot-ball  yesterday,"  murmured 
Jack,  lying  down  for  one  delicious  moment.  He  shut  the 
open  eye  to  enjoy  it  thoroughly,  and  forgot  the  stretch 
altogether,  for  the  bed  was  warm,  the  pillow  soft,  and 
a  half-finished  dream  still  hung  about  his  drowsy  brain. 
Who  does  not  know  the  fatal  charm  of  that  stolen 
moment,  —  for  once  yield  to  it,  and  one  is  lost. 

Jack  was  miles  away  "  in  the  twinkling  of  a  bed 
post,"  and  the  pleasing  dream  seemed  about  to  return, 
wrhen  a  ruthless  hand  tore  off  the  clothes,  swept  him 
out  of  bed,  and  he  really  did  awake  to  find  himself 
standing  in  the  middle  of  his  bath-pan  with  both  win 
dows  open,  and  Frank  about  to  pour  a  pail  of  water 
over  him. 

"  Hold  on !    Yah,  how  cold  the  water  is  !     Why,  I* 


240  JACK  AND  JILL. 

thought  I  was  up;"  and,  hopping  out,  Jack  rubbed  his 
eyes  and  looked  about  with  such  a  genuine  surprise 
that  Frank  put  down  the  pail,  feeling  that  the  deluge 
would  not  be  needed  this  time. 

"  You  are  now,  and  I  '11  see  that  you  keep  so,"  he 
said,  as  he  stripped  the  bed  and  carried  off  the  pil 
lows. 

"  I  don't  care.  What  a  jolly  day !  "  and  Jack  took 
a  little  promenade  to  finish  the  rousing  process. 

"  You  'd  better  hurry  up,  or  you  won't  get  your 
chores  done  before  breakfast.  No  time  for  a  cgo  as 
you  please'  now,"  said  Frank;  and  both  boys  laughed, 
for  it  was  an  old  joke  of  theirs,  and  rather  funny. 

Going  up  to  bed  one  night  expecting  to  find  Jack 
asleep,  Frank  discovered  him  tramping  round  and 
round  the  room  airily  attired  in  a  towel,  and  so  dizzy 
with  his  brisk  revolutions  that  as  his  brother  looked  he 
tumbled  over  and  lay  panting  like  a  fallen  gladiator. 

"  What  on  earth  are  you  about  ?  " 

"  Playing  Rowell.  Walking  for  the  belt,  and  I  've 
got  it  too,"  laughed  Jack,  pointing  to  an  old  gilt 
chandelier  chain  hanging  on  the  bedpost. 

"  You  little  noodle,  you  'd  better  revolve  into  bed 
before  you  lose  your  head  entirely.  I  never  saw  such 
a  fellow  for  taking  himself  off  his  legs." 

"Well,  if  I  didn't  exercise,  do  you  suppose  I  should 
be  able  to  do  that  —  or  that  ? "  cried  Jack,  turning  a 
somersault  and  striking  a  fine  attitude  as  he  came  up, 
flattering  himself  that  he  was  the  model  of  a  youthful 
athlete. 

"  You  look  more  like  a  clothes-pin  than  a  Hercules," 
was  the  crushing  reply  of  this  unsympathetic  brother, 
and  Jack  meekly  retired  with  a  bad  headache. 


GOOD   TEMPLARS.  241 

"I  don't  do  such  silly  things  now:  I'm  as  broad 
across  the  shoulders  as  you  are,  -and  twice  as  strong  on 
ray  pins,  thanks  to  my  gymnastics.  Bet  you  a  cent 
I  '11  be  dressed  first,  though  you  have  got  the  start," 
said  Jack,  knowing  that  Frank  always  had  a  protracted 
wrestle  with  his  collar-buttons,  which  gave  his  adver 
sary  a  great  advantage  over  him. 

"  Done  !  "  answered  Frank,  and  at  it  they  went.  A 
wild  scramble  was  heard  in  Jack's  room,  and  a  steady 
tramp  in  the  other  as  Frank  worked  away  at  the  stiff 
collar  and  the  unaccommodating  button  till  every  fin 
ger  ached.  A  clashing  of  boots  followed,  while  Jack 
whistled  "  Polly  Hopkins,"  and  Frank  declaimed  in 
his  deepest  voice,  — 

"  Arma  virumque  cano,  Trojae  qui  primus  ab  oris 
Italiam,  fato  profugus,  Laviniaque  venit  litora." 

Hair-brushes  came  next,  and  here  Frank  got  ahead, 
for  Jack's  thick  crop  would  stand  straight  up  on  the 
crown,  and  only  a  good  wetting  and  a  steady  brush 
would  make  it  lie  down. 

"  Play  away,  No.  2,"  called  out  Frank  as  he  put  on  his 
vest,  while  Jack  was  still  at  it  with  a  pair  of  the  stiif- 
est  brushes  procurable  for  money. 

"Hold  hard,  No.  11,  and  don't  forget  your  teeth," 
answered  Jack,  who  had  done  his. 

Frank  took  a  hasty  rub  and  whisked  on  his  coat, 
while  Jack  was  picking  up  the  various  treasures  which 
had  flown  out  of  his  pockets  as  he  caught  up  his  round 
about. 

"  Ready !  I  '11  trouble  you  for  a  cent,  sonny ;  "  and 
Frank  held  out  his  hand  as  he  appeared  equipped  for 
the  day. 

"  You  have  n't  hung  up  your  night-gown,  nor  aired 
16 


242  JACK  AND  JILL. 

the  bed,  nor  opened  the  windows.  That 's  part  of  the 
dressing ;  mother  said  so.  I  Ve  got  you  there,  for  you 
did  all  that  for  me,  except  this,"  and  Jack  threw  his 
gown  over  a  chair  with  a  triumphant  flourish  as  Frank 
turned  back  to  leave  his  room  in  the  order  which 
they  had  been  taught  was  one  of  the  signs  of  a  good 
bringing-up  in  boys  as  well  as  girls. 

"  Ready  !  I  '11  trouble  you  for  a  cent,  old  man ; "  and 
Jack  held  out  his  hand,  with  a  chuckle. 

He  got  the  money  and  a  good  clap  beside ;  then  they 
retired  to  the  shed  to  black  their  boots,  after  which 
Frank  filled  the  wood-boxes  and  Jack  split  kindlings, 
till  the  daily  allowance  was  ready.  Both  went  at 
their  lessons  for  half  an  hour,  Jack  scowling  over  his 
algebra  in  the  sofa  corner,  while  Frank,  with  his 
elbows  on  and  his  legs  round  the  little  stand  which 
held  his  books,  seemed  to  be  having  a  wrestling-match 
with  Herodotus. 

When  the  bell  rang  they  were  glad  to  drop  the  les 
sons  and  fall  upon  their  breakfast  with  the  appetite  of 
wolves,  especially  Jack,  who  sequestered  oatmeal  and 
milk  with  such  rapidity  that  one  would  have  thought 
he  had  a  leathern  bag  hidden  somewhere  to  slip  it  into, 
like  his  famous  namesake  when  he  breakfasted  with 
the  giant. 

"  I  declare  I  don't  see  what  he  does  with  it !  He 
really  ought  not  to  '  gobble  '  so,  mother,"  said  Frank, 
who  was  eating  with  great  deliberation  and  propriety. 

"  Never  you  mind,  old  quiddle.  I  'm  so  hungry  I 
could  tuck  away  a  bushel,"  answered  Jack,  emptying 
a  glass  of  milk  and  holding  out  his  plate  for  more 
mush,  regardless  of  his  white  moustache. 

"  Temperance  in  all  things  is  wise,  in  speech  as  well 


GOOD   TEMPLARS.  243 

as  eating  and  drinking,  —  remember  that,  boys,"  said 
Mamma  from  behind  the  urn. 

"  That  reminds  me  !  We  promised  to  do  the  '  Ob 
server  '  this  week,  and  here  it  is  Tuesday  and  I  have  n't 
done  a  thing  :  have  you  ?  "  asked  Frank. 

"  Never  thought  of  it.  We  must  look  up  some  bits 
at  noon  instead  of  playing.  Dare  say  Jill  has  got 
some  :  she  always  saves  all  she  finds  for  me." 

"  I  have  one  or  two  good  items,  and  can  do  any 
copying  there  may  be.  But  I  think  if  you  undertake 
the  paper  you  should  give  some  time  and  labor  to 
make  it  good,"  said  Marnma,  who  was  used  to  this  state 
of  affairs,  and  often  edited  the  little  sheet  read  every 
week  at  the  Lodge.  The  boys  seldom  missed  going, 
but  the  busy  lady  was  often  unable  to  be  there,  so 
helped  with  the  paper  as  her  share  of  the  labor. 

"  Yes,  we  ought,  but  somehow  we  don't  seem  to  get 
up  much  steam  about  it  lately.  If  more  people  be 
longed,  and  we  could  have  a  grand  time  now  and  then, 
it  would  be  jolly  ; "  and  Jack  sighed  at  the  lack  of  in 
terest  felt  by  outsiders  in  the  loyal  little  Lodge  which 
went  on  year  after  year  kept  up  by  the  faithful  few. 

"  I  remember  when  in  this  very  town  we  used  to 
have  a  Cold  Water  Army,  and  in  the  summer  turn  out 
with  processions,  banners,  and  bands  of  music  to  march 
about,  and  end  with  a  picnic,  songs,  and  speeches  in 
some  grove  or  hall.  Nearly  all  the  children  belonged 
to  it,  and  the  parents  also,  and  we  had  fine  times  here 
twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago." 

"  It  did  n't  do  much  good,  seems  to  me,  for  people 
still  drink,  and  we  have  n't  a  decent  hotel  in  the  place," 
said  Frank,  as  his  mother  sat  looking  out  of  the  win 
dow  as  if  she  saw  again  the  pleasant  sight  of  old  and 


244  JACK  AND  JILL. 

young  working  together  against  the  great  enemy  of 
home  peace, and  safety. 

"  Oh  yes,  it  did,  my  dear  ;  for  to  this  day  many  of 
those  children  are  true  to  their  pledge.  One  little  girl 
was,  I  am  sure,  and  now  has  two  big  boys  to  fight  for 
the  reform,  she  has  upheld  all  her  life.  The  town  is 
better  than  it  was  in  those  days,  and  if  we  each  do 
our  part  faithfully,  it  will  improve  yet  more.  Every 
boy  and  girl  who  joins  is  one  gained,  perhaps,  and  your 
example  is  the  best  temperance  lecture  you  can  give. 
Hold  fast,  and  don't  mind  if  it  is  n't  'jolly  : '  it  is  right, 
and  that  should  be  enough  for  us." 

Mamma  spoke  warmly,  for  she  heartily  believed  in 
young  people's  guarding  against  this  dangerous  vice 
before  it  became  a  temptation,  and  hoped  her  boys 
would  never  break  the  pledge  they  had  taken ;  for, 
young  as  they  were,  they  were  old  enough  to  see  its 
worth,  feel  its  wisdom,  and  pride  themselves  on  the 
promise  which  was  fast  growing  into  a  principle. 
Jack's  face  brightened  as  he  listened,  and  Frank  said, 
with  the  steady  look  which  made  his  face  manly,  — 

"  It  shall  be.  Now  I  '11  tell  you  what  I  was  going 
to  keep  as  a  surprise  till  to-night,  for  I  wanted  to  have 
my  secret  as  well  as  other  folks.  Ed  and  I  went  up 
to  see  Bob  Sunday,  and  he  said  he  'd  join  the  Lodge, 
if  they'd  have  him.  I'm  going  to  propose  him 
to-night." 

"  Good !  good ! "  cried  Jack,  joyfully,  and  Mrs. 
Minot  clapped  her  hands,  for  every  new  member  was 
rejoiced  over  by  the  good  people,  who  were  not  dis 
couraged  by  ridicule,  indifference,  or  opposition. 

"  We  've  got  him  now,  for  no  one  will  object,  and 
it  is  just  the  thing  for  him.  He  wants  to  belong  some- 


GOOD   TEMPLARS.  245 

where,  he  says,  and  he  '11  enjoy  the  fun,  and  the  good 
things  will  help  him,  and  we  will  look  after  him.  The 
Captain  was  so  pleased,  and  you  ought  to  have  seen 
Ed's  face  when  Bob  said,  'I'm  ready,  if  you'll  have 
me.'  " 

Frank's  own  face  was  beaming,  and  Jack  forgot  to 
"gobble,"  he  was  so  interested  in  the  new  convert, 
while  Mamma  said,  as  she  threw  down  her  napkin  and 
took  up  the  newspaper,  — 

"  We  must  not  forget  our  «  Observer,'  but  have  a  good 
one  to-night  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  There  may  be 
something  here.  Come  home  early  at  noon,  and  I  '11 
help  you  get  your  paper  ready." 

"  I  '11  be  here,  but  if  you  want  Frank,  you  'd  better 
tell  him  not  to  dawdle  over  Annette's  gate  half  an 
hour,"  began  Jack,  who  could  not  resist  teasing  his 
dignified  brother  about  one  of  the  few  foolish  things 
he  was  fond  of  doing. 

"  Do  you  want  your  nose  pulled  ?  "  demanded  Frank, 
who  never  would  stand  joking  on  that  tender  point 
from  his  brother. 

"  No,  I  don't ;  and  if  I  did,  you  could  n't  do  it ; "  with 
which  taunt  he  was  off  and  Frank  after  him,  having 
made  a  futile  dive  at  the  impertinent  little  nose  which 
was  turned  up  at  him  and  his  sweetheart. 

"  Boys,  boys,  not  through  the  parlor ! "  implored 
Mamma,  resigned  to  skirmishes,  but  trembling  for  her 
piano  legs  as  the  four  stout  boots  pranced  about  the 
table  and  then  went  thundering  down  the  hall,  through 
the  kitchen  where  the  fat  cook  cheered  them  on,  and 
Mary,  the  maid,  tried  to  head  off  Frank  as  Jack  rushed 
out  into  the  garden.  But  the  pursuer  ducked  under 
her  arm  and  gave  chase  with  all  speed.  Then  there 


246  JACK  AND  JILL. 

was  a  glorious  race  all  over  the  place ;  for  both  were 
good  runners,  and,  being  as  full  of  spring  vigor  as  frisky 
calves,  they  did  astonishing  things  in  the  way  of  leap 
ing  fences,  dodging  round  corners,  and  making  good 
time  down  the  wide  walks. 

But  Jack's  leg  was  not  quite  strong  yet,  and  he 
felt  that  his  round  nose  was  in  danger  of  a  vengeful 
tweak  as  his  breath  began  to  give  out  and  Frank's 
long  arms  drew  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  threatened 
feature.  Just  when  he  was  about  to  give  up  and  meet 
his  fate  like  a  man,  old  Bunny,  who  had  been  much 
excited  by  the  race,  came  scampering  across  the  path 
with  such  a  droll  skip  into  the  air  and  shake  of  the 
hind  legs  that  Frank  had  to  dodge  to  avoid  stepping 
on  him,  and  to  laugh  in  spite  of  himself.  This 
momentary  check  gave  Jack  a  chance  to  bolt  up  the 
back  stairs  and  take  refuge  in  the  Bird  Room,  from  the 
window  of  which  Jill  had  been  watching  the  race  with 
great  interest. 

No  romping  was  allowed  there,  so  a  truce  was  made 
by  locking  little  fingers,  and  both  sat  down  to  get 
their  breath. 

"  I  am  to  go  on  the  piazza,  for  an  hour,  by  and  by, 
Doctor  said.  Would  you  mind  carrying  me  down 
before  you  go  to  school,  you  do  it  so  nicely,  I  'm  not 
a  bit  afraid,"  said  Jill,  as  eager  for  the  little  change  as 
if  it  had  been  a  long  and  varied  journey. 

"  Yes,  indeed  !  Come  on,  Princess,"  answered  Jack, 
glad  to  see  her  so  well  and  happy. 

The  boys  made  an  arm-chair,  and  away  she  went,  for 
a  pleasant  day  downstairs.  She  thanked  Frank  with 
a  posy  for  his  button-hole,  well  knowing  that  it  would 
soon  pass  into  other  hands,  and  he  departed  to  join 


GOOD   TEMPLARS.  247 

Annette.  Having  told  Jill  about  Bob,  and  set  her  to 
work  on  the  "  Observer,"  Jack  kissed  his  mother,  and 
went  whistling  down  the  street,  a  gay  little  bachelor, 
with  a  nod  and  smile  for  all  he  met,  and  no  turned-up 
hat  or  jaunty  turban  bobbing  along  beside  him  to 
delay  his  steps  or  trouble  his  peace  of  mind. 

At  noon  they  worked  on  their  paper,  which  was  a 
collection  of  items,  cut  from  other  papers,  concerning 
temperance,  a  few  anecdotes,  a  bit  of  poetry,  a  story, 
and,  if  possible,  an  original  article  by  the  editor.  Many 
hands  make  light  work,  and  nothing  remained  but  a 
little  copying,  which  Jill  promised  to  do  before  night. 
So  the  boys  had  time  for  a  game  of  foot-ball  after 
school  in  the  afternoon,  which  they  much  enjoyed. 
As  they  sat  resting  on  the  posts,  Gus  said,  — 

"  Uncle  Fred  says  he  will  give  us  a  hay-cart  ride 
to-night,  as  it  is  moony,  and  after  it  you  are  all  to 
come  to  our  house  and  have  games." 

"  Can't  do  it,"  answered  Frank,  sadly. 

"  Lodge,"  groaned  Jack,  for  both  considered  a  drive 
in  the  cart,  where  they  all  sat  in  a  merry  bunch  among 
the  hay,  one  of  the  joys  of  life,  and  much  regretted 
that  a  prior  engagement  would  prevent  their  sharing 
in  it. 

"  That 's  a  pity !  I  forgot  it  was  Tuesday,  and  can't 
put  it  off,  as  I've  asked  all  the  rest.  Give  up  your 
old  Lodge  and  come  along,"  said  Gus,  who  had  not 
joined  yet. 

"  We  might  for  once,  perhaps,  but  I  don't  like  to  "  — 
began  Jack,  hesitating. 

"  I  won't.  Who 's  to  propose  Bob  if  we  don't  ?  I 
want  to  go  awfully;  but  I  wouldn't  disappoint  Bob 
for  a  good  deal,  now  he  is  willing  to  come."  And 


248  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Frank  sprang  off  his  post  as  if  anxious  to  flee  temp 
tation,  for  it  was  very  pleasant  to  go  singing,  up  hill 
and  down  dale,  in  the  spring  moonlight,  with  —  well, 
the  fellows  of  his  set. 

"Nor  Ed,  I  forgot  that.  No,  we  can't  go.  We 
want  to  be  Good  Templars,  and  we  mustn't  shirk," 
added  Jack,  following  his  brother. 

"Better  come.  Can't  put  it  off.  Lots  of  fun," 
called  Gus,  disappointed  at  losing  two  of  his  favorite 
mates. 

But  the  boys  did  not  turn  back,  and  as  they  went 
steadily  away  they  felt  that  they  were  doing  their 
little  part  in  the  good  work,  and  making  their  small 
sacrifices,  like  faithful  members. 

They  got  their  reward,  however,  for  at  home  they 
found  Mr.  Chauncey,  a  good  and  great  man,  from 
England,  who  had  known  their  grandfather,  and  was 
an  honored  friend  of  the  family.  The  boys  loved  to 
hear  him  talk,  and  all  tea-time  listened  with  interest 
to  the  conversation,  for  Mr.  Chauncey  was  a  re 
former  as  well  as  a  famous  clergyman,  and  it  wras 
like  inspiring  music  to  hear  him  tell  about  the  world's 
work,  and  the  brave  men  and  women  who  were  carry 
ing  it  on.  Eager  to  show  that  they  had,  at  least, 
begun,  the  boys  told  him  about  their  Lodge,  and 
were  immensely  pleased  when  their  guest  took  from 
his  pocket-book  a  worn  paper,  proving  that  he  too 
was  a  Good  Templar,  and  belonged  to  the  same 
army  as  they  did.  Nor  was  that  all,  for  when  they 
reluctantly  excused  themselves,  Mr.  Chauncey  gave 
each  a  hearty  "grip,"  and  said,  holding  their  hands 
in  his,  as  he  smiled  at  the  young  faces  looking  up  at 
him  with  so  much  love  and  honor  in  them,  — 


GOOD   TEMPLARS.  249 

"Tell  the  brothers  and  sisters  that  if  I  can  serve 
them  in  any  way  while  here,  to  command  me.  I  will 
give  them  a  lecture  at  their  Lodge  or  in  public,  which 
ever  they  like  ;  and  I  wish  you  God-speed,  dear  boys." 

Two  prouder  lads  never  walked  the  streets  than 
Frank  and  Jack  as  they  hurried  away,  nearly  forget 
ting  the  poor  little  paper  in  their  haste  to  tell  the 
good  news ;  for  it  was  seldom  that  such  an  offer  was 
made  the  Lodge,  and  they  felt  the  honor  done  them 
as  bearers  of  it. 

As  the  secrets  of  the  association  cannot  be  divulged 
to  the  uninitiated,  we  can  only  say  that  there  was 
great  rejoicing  over  the  new  member,  for  Bob  was 
unanimously  welcomed,  and  much  gratitude  both  felt 
and  expressed  for  Mr.  Chauncey's  interest  in  this 
small  division  of  the  grand  army ;  for  these  good 
folk  met  with  little  sympathy  from  the  great  people 
of  the  town,  and  it  was  very  cheering  to  have  a  well- 
known  and  much-beloved  man  say  a  word  for  them. 
All  agreed  that  the  lecture  should  be  public,  that 
others  might  share  the  pleasure  with  them,  and  per 
haps  be  converted  by  a  higher  eloquence  than  any 
they  possessed. 

So  the  services  that  night  were  unusually  full  of 
spirit  and  good  cheer ;  for  all  felt  the  influence  of  a 
friendly  word,  the  beauty  of  a  fine  example.  The 
paper  was  much  applauded,  the  songs  were  very 
hearty,  and  when  Frank,  whose  turn  it  was  to  be 
chaplain,  read  the  closing  prayer,  every  one  felt  that 
they  had  much  to  give  thanks  for,  since  one  more  had 
joined  them,  and  the  work  was  slowly  getting  on  with 
unexpected  helpers  sent  to  lend  a  hand.  The  lights 
shone  out  from  the  little  hall  across  the  street,  the 


250  JACK  AND  JILL, 

music  reached  the  ears  of  passers-by,  and  the  busy 
hum  of  voices  up  there  told  how  faithfully  some,  at 
least,  of  the  villagers  tried  to  make  the  town  a  safer 
place  for  their  boys  to  grow  up  in,  though  the  tavern 
still  had  its  private  bar  and  the  saloon-door  stood  open 
to  invite  them  in. 

There  are  many  such  quiet  lodges,  and  in  them 
many  young  people  learning  as  these  lads  were  learn 
ing  something  of  the  duty  they  owed  their  neighbors 
as  well  as  themselves,  and  being  fitted  to  become  good 
men  and  sober  citizens  by  practising  and  preaching 
the  law  and  gospel  of  temperance. 

The  next  night  Mr.  Chauncey  lectured,  and  the 
town  turned  out  to  hear  the  distinguished  man,  who 
not  only  told  them  of  the  crime  and  misery  produced 
by  this  terrible  vice  which  afflicted  both  England 
and  America,  but  of  the  great  crusade  against  it  going 
on  everywhere,  and  the  need  of  courage,  patience, 
hard  work,  and  much  faith,  that  in  time  it  might  be 
overcome.  Strong  and  cheerful  words  that  all  liked 
to  hear  and  many  heartily  believed,  especially  the 
young  Templars,  whose  boyish  fancies  were  won  by  the 
idea  of  fighting  as  knights  of  old  did  in  the  famous 
crusades  they  read  about  in  their  splendid  new  young 
folks'  edition  of  Froissart. 

"  We  can't  pitch  into  people  as  the  Red  Cross  fel 
lows  did,  but  we  can  smash  rum-jugs  when  we  get  the 
chance,  and  stand  by  our  flag  as  our  men  did  in  the 
war,"  said  Frank,  with  sparkling  eyes,  as  they  went 
home  in  the  moonlight  arm  in  arm,  keeping  step 
behind  Mr.  Chauncey,  who  led  the  way  with  their 
mother  on  his  arm,  a  martial  figure  though  a  minister, 
and  a  good  captain  to  follow,  as  the  boys  felt  after 
hearing  his  stirring  words. 


GOOD   TEMPLARS.  251 

"  Let's  try  and  get  up  a  company  of  boys  like  those 
mother  told  us  about,  and  show  people  that  we  mean 
what  we  say.  I  '11  be  color-bearer,  and  you  may  drill 
us  as  much  as  you  like.  A  real  Cold  Water  Army, 
with  flags  flying,  and  drums,  and  all  sorts  of  larks,"  said 
Jack,  much  excited,  and  taking  a  dramatic  view  of  the 
matter. 

"  We  '11  see  about  it.  Something  ought  to  be  done, 
and  perhaps  we  shall  be  the  men  to  do  it  when  the 
time  comes,"  answered  Frank,  feeling  ready  to  shoulder 
a  musket  or  be  a  minute-man  in  good  earnest. 

Boyish  talk  and  enthusiasm,  but  it  was  of  the  right 
sort ;  and  when  time  and  training  had  fitted  them  to 
bear  arms,  these  young  knights  would  be  worthy  to 
put  on  the  red  cross  and  ride  away  to  help  right  the 
wrongs  and  slay  the  dragons  that  afflict  the  world. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
A    SWEET   MEMORY. 

NOW  the  lovely  June  days  had  come,  everything 
began  to  look  really  summer-like ;  school  would 
soon  be  over,  and  the  young  people  were  joyfully  pre 
paring  for  the  long  vacation. 

"  We  are  all  going  up  to  Bethlehem.  We  take  the 
seashore  one  year  and  the  mountains  the  next.  Better 
come  along,"  said  Gus,  as  the  boys  lay  on  the  grass 
after  beating  the  Lincolns  at  one  of  the  first  matches 
of  the  season. 

"  Can't ;  we  are  off  to  Pebbly  Beach  the  second  week 
in  July.  Our  invalids  need  sea  air.  That  one  looks 
delicate,  does  n't  he  ?  "  asked  Frank,  giving  Jack  a 
slight  rap  with  his  bat  as  that  young  gentleman  lay 
in  his  usual  attitude  admiring  the  blue  hose  and  russet 
shoes  which  adorned  his  sturdy  limbs. 

"  Stop  that,  Captain !  you  need  n't  talk  about  inva 
lids,  when  you  know  mother  says  you  are  not  to  look 
at  a  book  for  a  month  because  you  have  studied  your 
self  thin  and  headachy.  I  'm  all  right ; "  and  Jack  gave 
himself  a  sounding  slap  on  the  chest,  where  shone  the 
white  star  of  the  H.  B.  B.  C. 

"  Hear  the  little  cockerel  crow !  you  just  wait  till 
you  get  into  the  college  class,  and  see  if  you  don't  have 


A   SWEET  MEMORY.  253 

to  study  like  fun,"  said  Gus,  with  unruffled  composure, 
for  he  was  going  to  Harvard  next  year,  and  felt  him 
self  already  a  Senior. 

"  Never  shall ;  I  don't  want  any  of  your  old  colleges. 
I  'm  going  into  business  as  soon  as  I  can.  Ed  says  I 
may  be  his  book-keeper,  if  I  am  ready  when  he  starts 
for  himself.  That  is  much  jollier  than  grinding  away 
for  four  years,  and  then  having  to  grind  ever  so  many 
more  at  a  profession,"  said  Jack,  examining  with  inter 
est  the  various  knocks  and  bruises  with  which  much 
ball-playing  had  adorned  his  hands. 

"  Much  you  know  about  it.  Just  as  well  you  don't 
mean  to  try,  for  it  would  take  a  mighty  long  pull  and 
strong  pull  to  get  you  in.  Business  would  suit  you 
better,  and  you  and  Ed  would  make  a  capital  partner 
ship.  Devlin,  Minot,  &  Co.  sounds  well,  hey,  Gus?" 

"  Very,  but  they  are  such  good-natured  chaps,  they  'd 
never  get  rich.  By  the  way,  Ed  came  home  at  noon 
to-day  sick.  I  met  him,  and  he  looked  regularly 
knocked  up,"  answered  Gus,  in  a  sober  tone. 

"  I  told  him  he  'd  better  not  go  down  Monday,  for 
he  was  n't  well  Saturday,  and  could  n't  come  to  sing 
Sunday  evening,  you  remember.  I  must  go  right  round 
and  see  what  the  matter  is; "  and  Jack  jumped  up,  with 
an  anxious  face. 

"  Let  him  alone  till  to-morrow.  He  won't  want  any 
one  fussing  over  him  now.  We  are  going  for  a  pull ; 
come  along  and  steer,"  said  Frank,  for  the  sunset  prom 
ised  to  be  fine,  and  the  boys  liked  a  brisk  row  in  their 
newly  painted  boat,  the  "  Rhodora." 

"  Go  ahead  and  get  ready,  I  '11  just  cut  round  and  ask 
at  the  door.  It  will  seem  kind,  and  I  must  know  how  Ed 
is.  Won't  be  long ; "  and  Jack  was  off  at  his  best  pace. 


254  JACK  AND  JILL. 

The  others  were  waiting  impatiently  when  he  cnme 
back  with  slower  steps  and  a  more  anxious  face. 

"How  is  the  old  fellow?"  called  Frank  from  the 
boat,  while  Gus  stood  leaning  on  an  oar  in  a  nautical 
attitude. 

"  Pretty  sick.  Had  the  doctor.  May  have  a  fever. 
I  did  n't  go  in,  but  Ed  sent  his  love,  and  wanted  to  know 
who  beat,"  answered  Jack,  stepping  to  his  place,  glad  to 
rest  and  cool  himself. 

"  Guess  he  '11  be  all  right  in  a  day  or  two ; "  and  Gus 
pushed  off,  leaving  all  care  behind. 

"  Hope  he  won't  have  typhoid,  —  that 's  no  joke,  I  tell 
you,"  said  Frank,  who  knew  all  about  it,  and  did  not 
care  to  repeat  the  experience. 

"  He 's  worked  too  hard.  He's  so  faithful  he  does 
more  than  his  share,  and  gets  tired  out.  Mother  asked 
him  to  come  down  and  see  us  when  he  has  his  vacation  ; 
we  are  going  to  have  high  old  times  fishing  and  boat 
ing.  Up  or  down?"  asked  Jack,  as  they  glided  out 
into  the  river. 

Gus  looked  both  ways,  and  seeing  another  boat  with  a 
glimpse  of  red  in  it  just  going  round  the  bend,  answered, 
with  decision,  u  Up,  of  course.  Don't  we  always  pull 
to  the  bridge  ?  " 

"Not  when  the  girls  are  going  down,"  laughed  J.ick, 
who  had  recognized  Juliet's  scarlet  boating-suit  as  he 
glanced  over  his  shoulder. 

"Mind  what  you  are  about,  and  don't  gabble,"  com 
manded  Captain  Frank,  as  the  crew  bent  to  their  oars 
and  the  slender  boat  cut  through  the  water  leaving  a 
long  furrow  trembling  behind. 

"  Oh,  ah !  I  see  !  there  is  a  blue  jacket  as  well  as  a 
red  one,  so  it 's  all  right. 


A   SWEET  MEMORY.  255 

"  '  Lady  Queen  Anne,  she  sits  in  the  sun, 
As  white  as  a  lily,  as  brown  as  a  bun/  " 

sung  Jack,  recovering  his  spirits,  and  wishing  Jill  was 
there  too. 

"Do  you  want  a  ducking?"  sternly  demanded  Gus, 
anxious  to  preserve  discipline. 

"  Should  n't  mind,  it 's  so  warm." 

But  Jack  said  no  more,  and  soon  the  "  Rhodora  "  was 
alongside  the  "  Water  Witch,"  exchanging  greetings 
in  the  most  amiable  manner. 

"  Pity  this  boat  won't  hold  four.  We  'd  put  Jack  in 
yours,  and  take  you  girls  a  nice  spin  up  to  the  Hem 
locks,"  said  Frank,  whose  idea  of  bliss  was  floating 
down  the  river  with  Annette  as  coxswain. 

"You  'd  better  come  in  here,  this  will  hold  four,  and 
we  are  tired  of  rowing,"  returned  the  "  Water  Witch," 
so  invitingly  that  Gus  could  not  resist. 

"  I  don't  think  it  is  safe  to  put  four  in  there.  You  'd 
better  change  places  with  Annette,  Gus,  and  then  we 
shall  be  ship-shape,"  said  Frank,  answering  a  telegram 
from  the  eyes  that  matched  the  bluejacket. 

"Wouldn't  it  be  more  ship-shape  still  if  you  put  me 
ashore  at  Grif 's  landing  ?  I  can  take  his  boat,  or  wait 
till  you  come  back.  Don't  care  what  I  do,"  said  Jack, 
feeling  himself  sadly  in  the  way. 

The  good-natured  offer  being  accepted  with  thanks, 
the  changes  were  made,  and,  leaving  him  behind,  the 
two  boats  went  gayly  up  the  river.  He  really  did  not 
care  what  he  did,  so  sat  in  Grif's  boat  awhile  watch 
ing  the  red  sky,  the  shining  stream,  and  the  low  green 
meadows,  where  the  blackbirds  were  singing  as  if  they 
too  had  met  their  little  sweethearts  and  were  happy. 

Jack   remembered    that  quiet  half-hour  long  after- 


256  JACK  AND  JILL. 

ward,  because  what  followed  seemed  to  impress  it  on  his 
memory.  As  he  sat  enjoying  the  scene,  he  very  natu 
rally  thought  about  Ed ;  for  the  face  of  the  sister  whom 
he  saw  was  very  anxious,  and  the  word  "fever"  re 
called  the  hard  times  when  Frank  was  ill,  particularly 
the  night  it  was  thought  the  boy  would  not  live  till 
dawn,  and  Jack  cried  himself  to  sleep,  wondering  how 
he  ever  could  get  on  without  his  brother.  Ed  was 
almost  as  dear  to  him,  and  the  thought  that  he  was 
suffering  destroyed  Jack's  pleasure  for  a  little  while. 
But,  fortunately,  young  people  do  not  know  how  to  be 
anxious  very  long,  so  our  boy  soon  cheered  up,  think 
ing  about  the  late  match  between  the  Stars  and  the 
Lincolns,  and  after  a  good  rest  went  whistling  home, 
with  a  handful  of  mint  for  Mrs.  Pecq,  and  played 
games  with  Jill  as  merrily  as  if  there  was  no  such  thing 
as  care  in  the  world. 

Next  day  Ed  was  worse,  and  for  a  week  the  answer 
was  the  same,  when  Jack  crept  to  the  back  door  with 
his  eager  question.  Others  came  also,  for  the  dear 
boy  lying  upstairs  had  friends  everywhere,  and  older 
neighbors  thought  of  him  even  more  anxiously  and 
tenderly  than  his  mates.  It  was  not  fever,  but  some 
swifter  trouble,  for  when  Saturday  night  came,  Ed  had 
gone  home  to  a  longer  and  more  peaceful  Sabbath  than 
any  he  had  ever  known  in  this  world. 

Jack  had  been  there  in  the  afternoon,  and  a  kind 
message  had  come  down  to  him  that  his  friend  was 
not  suffering  so  much,  and  he  had  gone  away,  hoping, 
in  his  boyish  ignorance,  that  all  danger  was  over.  An 
hour  later  he  was  reading  in  the  parlor,  having  no 
heart  for  play,  when  Frank  came  in  with  a  look  upon 
his  face  which  would  have  prepared  Jack  for  the  news 


A    SWEET  MEMORY  257 

if  he  had  seen  it.  But  he  did  not  look  up,  and  Frank 
found  it  so  hard  to  speak,  that  he  lingered  a  moment  at 
the  piano,  as  he  often  did  when  he  came  home.  It 
stood  open,  and  on  the  rack  was  the  "Jolly  Brothers' 
Galop,"  which  he  had  been  learning  to  play  with  Ed. 
Big  boy  as  he  was,  the  sudden  thought  that  never 
again  would  they  sit  shoulder  to  shoulder,  thundering 
the  marches  or  singing  the  songs  both  liked  so  well, 
made  his  eyes  fill  as  he  laid  away  the  music,  and  shut 
the  instrument,  feeling  as  if  he  never  wanted  to  touch 
it  again.  Then  he  went  and  sat  down  beside  Jack 
with  an  arm  round  his  neck,  trying  to  steady  his  voice 
by  a  natural  question  before  he  told  the  heavy  news. 

"  What  are  you  reading,  Jackey  ?  " 

The  unusual  caress,  the  very  gentle  tone,  made  Jack 
look  up,  and  the  minute  he  saw  Frank's  face  he  knew 
the  truth. 

"  Is  Ed  —  ? "  he  could  not  say  the  hard  word,  and 
Frank  could  only  answer  by  a  nod  as  he  winked  fast, 
for  the  tears  would  come.  Jack  said  no  more,  but  as 
the  book  dropped  from  his  knee  he  hid  his  face  in  the 
sofa-pillow  and  lay  quite  still,  not  crying,  but  trying  to 
make  it  seem  true  that  his  dear  Ed  had  gone  away  for 
ever.  He  could  not  do  it,  and  presently  turned  his 
head  a  little  to  say,  in  a  despairing  tone,  — 

"  I  don't  see  what  I  shall  do  without  him !  " 

"  I  know  it 's  hard  for  you.     It  is  for  all  of  us." 

"  You  've  got  Gas,  but  now  I  have  n't  anybody.  Ed 
was  always  so  good  to  me!"  and  with  the  name  so 
many  tender  recollections  came,  that  poor  Jack  broke 
down  in  spite  of  his  manful  attempts  to  smother  the 
sobs  in  the  red  pillow. 

There  was  an  unconscious  reproach  in  the  words, 
17 


258  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Frank  thought ;  for  he  was  not  as  gentle  as  Ed,  and  he 
did  not  wonder  that  Jack  loved  and  mourned  for  the 
lost  friend  like  a  brother. 

"  You  've  got  me.  I  '11  be  good  to  you ;  cry  if  you 
want  to,  I  don't  mind." 

There  was  such  a  sympathetic  choke  in  Frank's 
voice  that  Jack  felt  comforted  at  once,  and  when  he 
had  had  his  cry  out,  which  was  very  soon,  he  let  Frank 
pull  him  up  with  a  bear-like  but  affectionate  hug,  and 
sat  leaning  on  him  as  they  talked  about  their  loss,  both 
feeling  that  there  might  have  been  a  greater  one,  and 
resolving  to  love  one  another  very  much  hereafter. 

Mrs.  Minot  often  called  Frank  the  "father-boy,"  be 
cause  he  was  now  the  head  of  the  house,  and  a  sober, 
reliable  fellow  for  his  years.  Usually  he  did  not  show 
much  affection  except  to  her,  for,  as  he  once  said,  "  I 
shall  never  be  too  old  to  kiss  my  mother,"  and  she 
often  wished  that  he  had  a  little  sister,  to  bring  out  the 
softer  side  of  his  character.  Pie  domineered  over  Jack 
and  laughed  at  his  affectionate  little  ways,  but  now 
when  trouble  came,  he  was  as  kind  and  patient  as  a  girl ; 
and  when  Mamma  came  in,  having  heard  the  news,  she 
found  her  "  father-boy  "  comforting  his  brother  so  well 
that  she  slipped  away  without  a  word,  leaving  them  to 
learn  one  of  the  sweet  lessons  sorrow  teaches,  —  to 
lean  on  one  another,  and  let  each  trial  bring  them 
closer  together. 

It  is  often  said  that  there  should  be  no  death  or 
grief  in  children's  stories.  It  is  not  wise  to  dwell  on 
the  dark  and  sad  side  of  these  things ;  but  they  have 
also  a  bright  and  lovely  side,  and  since  even  the  young 
est,  dearest,  and  most  guarded  child  cannot  escape 
some  knowledge  of  the  great  mystery,  is  it  not  well  to 


A   SWEET  MEMORY.  259 

teach  them  in  simple,  cheerful  ways  that  affection 
sweetens  sorrow,  and  a  lovely  life  can  make  death 
beautiful?  I  think  so,  therefore  try  to  tell  the  last 
scene  in  the  history  of  a  boy  who  really  lived  and  really 
left  behind  him  a  memory  so  precious  that  it  will  not 
be  soon  forgotten  by  those  who  knew  and  loved  him. 
For  the  influence  of  this  short  life  was  felt  by  many, 
and  even  this  brief  record  of  it  may  do  for  other  chil 
dren  what  the  reality  did  for  those  who  still  lay  flowers 
on  his  grave,  and  try  to  be  "  as  good  as  Elly." 

Few  would  have  thought  that  the  death  of  a  quiet 
lad  of  seventeen  would  have  been  so  widely  felt,  so 
sincerely  mourned  ;  but  virtue,  like  sunshine,  works  its 
own  sweet  miracles,  and  when  it  was  known  that  never 
again  would  the  bright  face  be  seen  in  the  village 
streets,  the  cheery  voice  heard,  the  loving  heart  felt  in 
any  of  the  little  acts  which  so  endeared  Ed  Devlin  to 
those  about  him,  it  seemed  as  if  young  and  old  grieved 
alike  for  so  much  promise  cut  off  in  its  spring-time. 
This  was  proved  at  the  funeral,  for,  though  it  took 
place  at  the  busy  hour  of  a  busy  day,  men  left  their 
affairs,  women  their  households,  young  people  their 
studies  and  their  play,  and  gave  an  hour  to  show 
their  affection,  respect,  and  sympathy  for  those  who 
had  lost  so  much. 

The  girls  had  trimmed  the  church  with  all  the 
sweetest  flowers  they  could  find,  and  garlands  of  lilies 
of  the  valley  robbed  the  casket  of  its  mournful  look. 
The  boys  had  brought  fresh  boughs  to  make  the  grave 
a  green  bed  for  their  comrade's  last  sleep.  Now  they 
were  all  gathered  together,  and  it  was  a  touching 
sight  to  see  the  rows  of  young  faces  sobered  and 
saddened  by  their  first  look  at  sorrow.  The  girls 


260  JACK  AND  JILL. 

sobbed,  and  the  boys  set  their  lips  tightly  as  their 
glances  fell  upon  the  lilies  under  which  the  familiar  face 
lay  full  of  solemn  peace.  Tears  dimmed  older  eyes 
when  the  hymn  the  dead  boy  loved  was  sung,  and  the 
pastor  told  with  how  much  pride  and  pleasure  he  had 
watched  the  gracious  growth  of  this  young  parishioner 
since  he  first  met  the  lad  of  twelve  and  was  attracted 
by  the  shining  face,  the  pleasant  manners.  Dutiful  and 
loving ;  ready  to  help ;  patient  to  bear  and  forbear ; 
eager  to  excel ;  faithful  to  the  smallest  task,  yet  full  of 
high  ambitions ;  and,  better  still,  possessing  the  childlike 
piety  that  can  trust  and  believe,  wait  and  hope.  Good 
and  happy,  —  the  two  things  we  all  long  for  and  so  few 
of  us  truly  are.  This  he  was,  and  this  single  fact  was 
the  best  eulogy  his  pastor  could  pronounce  over  the 
beloved  youth  gone  to  a  nobler  manhood  whose 
promise  left  so  sweet  a  memory  behind. 

As  the  young  people  looked,  listened,  and  took  in 
the  scene,  they  felt  as  if  some  mysterious  power  had 
changed  their  playmate  from  a  creature  like  them 
selves  into  a  sort  of  saint  or  hero  for  them  to  look  up 
to,  and  imitate  if  they  could.  "  What  has  he  done,  to 
be  so  loved,  praised,  and  mourned  ?  "  they  thought,  with 
a  tender  sort  of  wonder ;  and  the  answrer  seemed  to 
come  to  them  as  never  before,  for  never  had  they  been 
brought  so  near  the  solemn  truth  of  life  and  death.  "  It 
was  not  what  he  did  but  what  he  was  that  made  him  so 
beloved.  All  that  was  sweet  and  noble  in  him  still 
lives;  for  goodness  is  the  only  thing  we  can  take  with 
us  when  we  die,  the  only  thing  that  can  comfort  those 
we  leave  behind,  and  help  us  to  meet  again  hereafter." 

This  feeling  was  in  many  hearts  when  they  went 
away  to  lay  him,  with  prayer  and  music,  under  the 


A   SWEET  MEMORY.  261 

budding  oak  that  leaned  over  his  grave,  a  fit  emblem 
of  the  young  life  just  beginning  its  new  spring.  As 
the  children  did  their  part,  the  beauty  of  the  summer 
day  soothed  their  sorrow,  and  something  of  the  soft 
brightness  of  the  June  sunshine  seemed  to  gild  their 
thoughts,  as  it  gilded  the  flower-strewn  mound  they  left 
behind.  The  true  and  touching  words  spoken  cheered 
as  well  as  impressed  them,  and  made  them  feel  that  their 
friend  was  not  lost  but  gone  on  into  a  higher  class  of 
the  great  school  whose  Master  is  eternal  love  and 
wisdom.  So  the  tears  soon  dried,  and  the  young  faces 
looked  up  like  flowers  after  rain.  But  the  heaven-sent 
shower  sank  into  the  earth,  and  they  were  the  stronger, 
sweeter  for  it,  more  eager  to  make  life  brave  and  beau 
tiful,  because  death  had  gently  shown  them  what  it 
should  be. 

When  the  boys  came  home  they  found  their  mother 
already  returned,  and  Jill  upon  the  parlor  sofa  listen 
ing  to  her  account  of  the  funeral  with  the  same  quiet, 
hopeful  look  which  their  own  faces  wore ;  for  some 
how  the  sadness  seemed  to  have  gone,  and  a  sort  of 
Sunday  peace  remained. 

"I'm  glad  it  was  all  so  sweet  and  pleasant.  Come 
and  rest,  you  look  so  tired  ; "  and  Jill  held  out  her 
hands  to  greet  them,  —  a  crumpled  handkerchief  in  one 
and  a  little  bunch  of  fading  lilies  in  the  other. 

Jack  sat  down  in  the  low  chair  beside  her  and  leaned 
his  head  against  the  arm  of  the  sofa,  for  he  was  tired. 
J3ut  Frank  walked  slowly  up  and  down  the  long  rooms 
with  a  serious  yet  serene  look  on  his  face,  for  he  felt 
as  if  he  had  learned  something  that  day,  and  would 
always  be  the  better  for  it.  Presently  he  said,  stop 
ping  before  his  mother,  who  leaned  in  the  easy-chair 
looking  up  at  the  picture  of  her  boys'  father,  — 


262  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"I  should  like  to  have  just  such  things  said  about 
me  when  I  die." 

"  So  should  I,  if  I  deserved  them  as  Ed  did !  "  cried 
Jack,  earnestly. 

"  You  may  if  you  try.  I  should  be  proud  to  hear 
them,  and  if  they  were  true,  they  would  comfort  me 
more  than  anything  else.  I  am  glad  you  see  the  lovely 
side  of  sorrow,  and  are  learning  the  lesson  such  losses 
teach  us,"  answered  their  mother,  who  believed  in 
teaching  young  people  to  face  trouble  bravely,  and 
find  the  silver  lining  in  the  clouds  that  come  to 
all  of  us. 

"  I  never  thought  much  about  it  before,  but  now 
dying  doesn't  seem  dreadful  at  all,  —  only  solemn  and 
beautiful.  Somehow  everybody  seems  to  love  every 
body  else  more  for  it,  and  try  to  be  kind  and  good  and 
pious.  I  can't  say  what  I  mean,  but  you  know, 
mother; "and  Frank  went  pacing  on  again  with  the 
bright  look  his  eyes  always  wore  when  he  listened  to 
music  or  read  of  some  noble  action. 

"  That 's  what  Merry  said  when  she  and  Molly  came 
in  on  their  way  home.  But  Molly  felt  dreadfully,  and 
so  did  Mabel.  She  brought  me  these  flowers  to  press, 
for  we  are  all  going  to  keep  some  to  remember  dear 
Ed  by,"  said  Jill,  carefully  smoothing  out  the  little 
bells  as  she  laid  the  lilies  in  her  hymn-book,  for  she  too 
had  had  a  thoughtful  hour  while  she  lay  alone,  imagin 
ing  all  that  went  on  in  the  church,  and  shedding  a  few 
tender  tears  over  the  friend  who  was  always  so  kind 
to  her. 

"I  don't  want  anything  to  remember  him  by. 
I  was  so  fond  of  him,  I  couldn't  forget  if  I  tried.  I 
know  I  ought  not  to  say  it,  but  I  don't  see  why  God 


A    SWEET  MEMORY.  263 

let  him  die,"  said  Jack,  with  a  quiver  in  his  voice,  for 
his  loving  heart  could  not  help  aching  still. 

"  No,  dear,  we  cannot  see  or  know  many  things 
that  grieve  us  very  much,  but  we  can  trust  that  it 
is  right,  and  try  to  believe  that  all  is  meant  for  our 
good.  That  is  what  faith  means,  and  without  it  we  are 
miserable.  When  you  were  little,  you  were  afraid  of 
the  dark,  but  if  I  spoke  or  touched  you,  then  you  were 
sure  all  was  well,  and  fell  asleep  holding  my  hand. 
God  is  wiser  and  stronger  than  any  father  or  mother, 
so  hold  fast  to  Him,  and  you  will  have  no  doubt  or 
fear,  however  dark  it  seems." 

"  As  you  do,"  said  Jack,  going  to  sit  on  the  arm  of 
Mamma's  chair,  with  his  cheek  to  hers,  willing  to  trust 
as  she  bade  him,  but  glad  to  hold  fast  the  living  hand 
that  had  led  and  comforted  him  all  his  life. 

"  Ed  used  to  say  to  me  when  I  fretted  about  getting 
well,  and  thought  nobody  cared  for  me,  which  was 
very  naughty,  '  Don't  be  troubled,  God  won't  forget 
you  ;  and  if  you  must  be  lame,  He  will  make  you 
able  to  bear  it,' "  said  Jill,  softly,  her  quick  little  mind 
all  alive  with  new  thoughts  and  feelings. 

"  He  believed  it,  and  that 's  why  he  liked  that  hymn 
so  much.  I'm  glad  they  sung  it  to-day,"  said  Frank, 
bringing  his  heavy  dictionary  to  lay  on  the  book  where 
the  flowers  were  pressing. 

"  Oh,  thank  you  !  Could  you  play  that  tune  for 
me  ?  I  did  n't  hear  it,  and  I  'd  love  to,  if  you  are  will 
ing,"  asked  Jill. 

"  I  did  n't  think  I  ever  should  want  to  play  again, 
but  I  do.  Will  you  sing  it  for  her,  mother  ?  I  'm 
afraid  I  shall  break  down  if  I  try  alone." 

"We  will  all  sing,  music  is  good  for  us  now,"  said 


264  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Mamma;  and  in  rather  broken  voices  they  did  sing 
Ed's  favorite  words  :  — 

"  Not  a  sparrow  falleth  but  its  God  doth  know, 
Just  as  when  his  mandate  lays  a  monarch  low  ; 
Not  a  leaflet  inoveth,  but  its  God  doth  see, — 
Think  not,  then,  O  mortal,  God  forgetteth  thee. 
Far  more  precious  surely  than  the  birds  that  fly 
Is  a  Father's  image  to  a  Father's  eye. 
E'en  thy  hairs  are  numbered ;  trust  Him  full  and  free, 
Cast  thy  cares  before  Him,  He  will  comfort  thee ; 
For  the  God  that  planted  in  thy  breast  a  soul, 
On  his  sacred  tables  doth  thy  name  enroll. 
Cheer  thine  heart,  then,  mortal,  never  faithless  be; 
He  that  marks  the  sparrows  will  remember  thee." 


CHAPTER    XXL 

PEBBLY  BEACH. 


Mr.  Jack?  ^  is  a  moral  impossibility  to  get 
all  those  things  into  one  trunk,  and  you  must  n't 
ask  it  of  me,"  said  Mrs.  Pecq,  in  a  tone  of  despair,  as 
she  surveyed  the  heap  of  treasures  she  was  expected  to 
pack  for  the  boys. 

"  Never  mind  the  clothes,  we  only  want  a  boating- 
suit  apiece.  Mamma  can  put  a  few  collars  in  her  trunk 
for  us;  but  these  necessary  things  must  go,"  answered 
Jack,  adding  his  target  and  air-pistol  to  the  pile  of 
bats,  fishing-tackle,  games,  and  a  choice  collection  of 
shabby  balls. 

"  Those  are  the  necessaries  and  clothes  the  luxuries, 
are  they  ?  Why  don't  you  add  a  velocipede,  wheel 
barrow,  and  printing-press,  my  dear?"  asked  Mrs. 
Pecq,  while  Jill  turned  up  her  nose  at  "  boys'  rubbish." 

"Wish  I  could.  Dare  say  we  shall  want  them. 
Women  don't  know  what  fellows  need,  and  always 
must  put  in  a  lot  of  stiff  shirts  and  clean  handkerchiefs 
and  clothes-brushes  and  pots  of  cold  cream.  We  are 
going  to  rough  it,  and  don't  want  any  fuss  and  feath 
ers,"  said  Jack,  beginning  to  pack  the  precious  balls  in 
his  rubber  boots,  and  strap  them  up  with  the  umbrellas, 
rods,  and  bats,  seeing  that  there  was  no  hope  of  a  place 
in  the  trunk. 


266  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Here  Frank  came  in  with  two  big  books,  saying 
calmly,  "  Just  slip  these  in  somewhere,  we  shall  need 
them." 

"  But  you  are  not  to  study  at  all,  so  you  won't  want 
those  great  dictionaries,"  cried  Jill,  busily  packing 
her  new  travelling-basket  with  all  sorts  of  little  rolls, 
bags,  and  boxes. 

"They  are  not  dies,  but  my  Encyclopedia.  We 
shall  want  to  know  heaps  of  things,  and  this  tells  about 
everything.  With  those  books,  and  a  microscope  and 
a  telescope,  you  could  travel  round  the  world,  and  learn 
all  you  wanted  to.  Can't  possibly  get  on  without 
them,"  said  Frank,  fondly  patting  his  favorite  work. 

"My  patience!  what  queer  cattle  boys  are!"  ex 
claimed  Mrs.  Pecq,  while  they  all  laughed.  "It  can't 
be  done,  Mr.  Frank;  all  the  boxes  are  brim  full,  and 
you  '11  have  to  leave  those  fat  books  behind,  for  there 's 
no  place  anywhere." 

u  Then  I  '11  carry  them  myself ; "  and  Frank  tucked 
one  under  each  arm,  with  a  determined  air,  which  set 
tled  the  matter. 

"  I  suppose  you  '11  study  cockleology  instead  of  boat 
ing,  and  read  up  on  polywogs  while  we  play  tennis, 
or  go  poking  round  with  your  old  spy-glass  instead  of 
having  a  jolly  good  time,"  said  Jack,  hauling  away  on 
the  strap  till  all  was  taut  and  ship-shape  with  the 
bundle. 

"  Tadpoles  don't  live  in  salt  water,  my  son,  and  if 
you  mean  conchology,  you'd  better  say  so.  I  shall  play 
as  much  as  I  wish,  and  when  I  want  to  know  about 
any  new  or  curious  thing,  I  shall  consult  my  Cyclo, 
instead  of  bothering  other  people  with  questions,  or 
giving  it  up  like  a  dunce ; "  with  which  crushing  reply 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  267 

Frank  departed,  leaving  Jill  to  pack  and  unpack  her 
treasures  a  dozen  times,  and  Jack  to  dance  jigs  on  the 
lids  of  the  trunks  till  they  would  shut. 

A  very  happy  party  set  off  the  next  day,  leaving 
Mrs.  Pecq  waving  her  apron  on  the  steps.  Mrs.  Minot 
carried  the  lunch,  Jack  his  precious  bundle  with  trifles 
dropping  out  by  the  way,  and  Jill  felt  very  elegant 
bearing  her  new  basket  with  red  worsted  cherries  bob 
bing  on  the  outside.  Frank  actually  did  take  the  Ency 
clopedia,  done  up  in  the  roll  of  shawls,  and  whenever 
the  others  wondered  about  anything,  —  tides,  light 
houses,  towns,  or  natural  productions,  —  he  brought 
forth  one  of  the  books  and  triumphantly  read  therefrom, 
to  the  great  merriment,  if  not  edification,  of  his  party. 

A  very  short  trip  by  rail  and  the  rest  of  the  journey 
by  boat,  to  Jill's  great  contentment,  for  she  hated  to  be 
shut  up ;  and  while  the  lads  roved  here  and  there  she 
sat  under  the  awning,  too  happy  to  talk.  But  Mrs. 
Minot  watched  with  real  satisfaction  how  the  fresh 
wind  blew  the  color  back  into  the  pale  cheeks,  how  the 
eyes  shone  and  the  heart  filled  with  delight  at  seeing 
the  lovely  world  again,  and  being  able  to  take  a  share 
in  its  active  pleasures. 

The  Willows  was  a  long,  low  house  close  to  the 
beach,  and  as  full  as  a  beehive  of  pleasant  people,  al) 
intent  on  having  a  good  time.  A  great  many  children 
were  swarming  about,  and  Jill  found  it  impossible  to 
sleep  after  her  journey,  there  was  such  a  lively  clatter 
of  tongues  on  the  piazzas,  and  so  many  feet  going  to 
and  fro  in  the  halls.  She  lay  down  obediently  while 
Mrs.  Minot  settled  matters  in  the  two  airy  rooms  and 
gave  her  some  dinner,  but  she  kept  popping  up  her 
head  to  look  out  of  the  window  to  see  what  she  could 


268  JACK  AND  JILL. 

see.  Just  opposite  stood  an  artist's  cottage  and  studio, 
with  all  manner  of  charming  galleries,  towers,  steps, 
and  even  a  sort  of  drawbridge  to  pull  up  when  the 
painter  wished  to  be  left  in  peace.  He  was  absent  now, 
and  the  visitors  took  possession  of  this  fine  play-place. 
Children  were  racing  up  and  down  the  galleries,  ladies 
sitting  in  the  tower,  boys  disporting  themselves  on  the 
roof,  and  young  gentlemen  preparing  for  theatricals  in 
the  large  studio. 

"What  fun  I'll  have  over  there,"  thought  Jill, 
watching  the  merry  scene  with  intense  interest,  and 
wondering  if  the  little  girls  she  saw  were  as  nice  as 
Molly  and  Merry. 

Then  there  were  glimpses  of  the  sea  beyond  the 
green  bank  where  a  path  wound  along  to  the  beach, 
whence  came  the  cool  dash  of  waves,  arid  now  and 
then  the  glimmer  of  a  passing  sail. 

"  Oh,  when  can  I  go  out  ?  It  looks  so  lovely,  I  can't 
wait  long,"  she  said,  looking  as  eager  as  a  little  gull 
shut  up  in  a  cage  and  pining  for  its  home  on  the  wide 
ocean. 

"As  soon  as  it  is  a  little  cooler,  dear.  I'm  getting 
ready  for  our  trip,  but  we  must  be  careful  and  not  do 
too  much  at  once.  '  Slow  and  sure  '  is  our  motto,"  an 
swered  Mrs.  Minot,  busily  collecting  the  camp-stools, 
the  shawls,  the  air-cushions,  and  the  big  parasols. 

"  I  '11  be  good,  only  do  let  me  have  my  sailor-hat  to 
wear,  and  my  new  suit.  I  'm  not  a  bit  tired,  and  I  do 
want  to  be  like  other  folks  right  off,"  said  Jill,  who  had 
been  improving  rapidly  of  late,  and  felt  much  elated  at 
being  able  to  drive  out  nearly  every  day,  to  walk  a  little, 
and  sit  up  some  hours  without  any  pain  or  fatigue. 

To  gratify  her,  the  blue  flannel  suit  with  its  white 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  269 

trimming  was  put  on,  and  Mamma  was  just  buttoning 
the  stout  boots  when  Jack  thundered  at  the  door,  and 
burst  in  with  all  sorts  of  glorious  news. 

"  Do  come  out,  mother,  it 's  perfectly  splendid  on  the 
beach  !  I  've  found  a  nice  place  for  Jill  to  sit,  and  it 's 
only  a  step.  Lots  of  capital  fellows  here ;  one  has  a 
bicycle,  and  is  going  to  teach  us  to  ride.  No  end  of 
fun  up  at  the  hotel,  and  every  one  seems  glad  to  see  us. 
Two  ladies  asked  about  Jill,  and  one  of  the  girls  has 
got  some  shells  all  ready  for  her,  Gerty  Somebody, 
and  her  mother  is  so  pretty  and  jolly,  I  like  her  ever  so 
much.  They  sit  at  our  table,  and  Wally  is  the  boy, 
younger  than  I  am,  but  very  pleasant.  Bacon  is  the 
fellow  in  knickerbockers  ;  just  wish  you  could  see  what 
stout  legs  he  's  got !  Cox  is  the  chap  for  me,  though  : 
we  are  going  fishing  to-morrow.  He 's  got  a  sweet- 
looking  mother,  and  a  sister  for  you,  Jill.  Now,  then, 
do  come  on,  I'll  take  the  traps." 

Off  they  went,  and  Jill  thought  that  very  short  walk 
to  the  shore  the  most  delightful  she  ever  took ;  for  peo 
ple  smiled  at  the  little  invalid  as  she  went  slowly  by 
leaning  on  Mrs.  Minot's  arm,  while  Jack  pranced  in 
front,  doing  the  honors,  as  if  he  owned  the  whole  At 
lantic.  A  new  world  opened  to  her  eyes  as  they  came 
out  upon  the  pebbly  beach  full  of  people  enjoying 
their  afternoon  promenade.  Jill  gave  one  rapturous 
"  Oh ! "  and  then  sat  on  her  stool,  forgetting  every 
thing  but  the  beautiful  blue  ocean  rolling  away  to  meet 
the  sky,  with  nothing  to  break  the  wide  expanse  but  a 
sail  here  and  there,  a  point  of  rocks  on  one  hand,  the 
little  pier  on  the  other,  and  white  gulls  skimming  by  on 
their  wide  wings. 

While  she   sat   enjoying  herself,  Jack  showed   his 


270  JACK  AND  JILL. 

mother  the  place  he  had  found,  and  a  very  nice  one  it 
was.  Just  under  the  green  bank  lay  an  old  boat  propped 
up  with  some  big  stones.  A  willow  drooped  over  it, 
the  tide  rippled  up  within  a  few  yards  of  it,  and  a  fine 
view  of  the  waves  could  be  seen  as  they  dashed  over 
the  rocks  at  the  point. 

"  Is  n't  it  a  good  cubby-house  ?  Ben  Cox  and  I  fixed 
it  for  Jill,  and  she  can  have  it  for  hers.  Put  her  cush 
ions  and  things  there  on  the  sand  the  children  have 
thrown  in,  —  that  will  make  it  soft ;  then  these  seats  will 
do  for  tables ;  and  up  in  the  bow  I  'm  going  to  have  that 
old  rusty  tin  boiler  full  of  salt-water,  so  she  can  put 
sea-weed  and  crabs  and  all  sorts  of  chaps  in  it  for  an 
aquarium,  you  know,"  explained  Jack,  greatly  inter 
ested  in  establishing  his  family  comfortably  before  he 
left  them. 

"  There  could  n't  be  a  nicer  place,  and  it  is  very  kind 
of  you  to  get  it  ready.  Spread  the  shawls  and  settle 
Jill,  then  you  need  n't  think  of  us  any  more,  but  go 
and  scramble  with  Frank.  I  see  him  over  there  with 
his  spy-glass  and  some  pleasant-looking  boys,"  said 
Mamma,  bustling  about  in  great  spirits. 

So  the  red  cushions  were  placed,  the  plaids  laid, 
and  the  little  work-basket  set  upon  the  seat,  all  ready 
for  Jill,  who  was  charmed  with  her  nest,  and  cuddled 
down  under  the  big  parasol,  declaring  she  would  keep 
house  there  every  day. 

Even  the  old  boiler  pleased  her,  and  Jack  raced 
over  the  beach  to  begin  his  search  for  inhabitants  for 
the  new  aquarium,  leaving  Jill  to  make  friends  with 
some  pretty  babies  digging  in  the  sand,  while  Mamma 
sat  on  the  camp-stool  and  talked  with  a  friend  from 
Harmony  Village. 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  271 

It  seemed  as  if  there  could  not  be  anything  more 
delightful  than  to  lie  there  lulled  by  the  sound  of  the 
sea,  watching  the  sunset  and  listening  to  the  pleasant 
babble  of  little  voices  close  by.  But  when  they  went 
to  tea  in  the  great  hall,  with  six  tables  full  of  merry 
people,  and  half  a  dozen  maids  flying  about,  Jill  thought 
that  was  even  better,  because  it  was  so  new  to  her.  Gerty 
and  Wally  nodded  to  her,  and  their  pretty  mamma  was 
so  kind  and  so  gay,  that  Jill  could  not  feel  bashful  after 
the  first  few  minutes,  and  soon  looked  about  her,  sure 
of  seeing  friendly  faces  everywhere.  Frank  and  Jack 
ate  as  if  the  salt  air  had  already  improved  their  appe 
tites,  and  talked  about  Bacon  and  Cox  as  if  they  had 
been  bosom  friends  for  years.  Mamma  was  as  happy 
as  they,  for  her  friend,  Mrs.  Hammond,  sat  close  by ; 
and  this  rosy  lady,  who  had  been  a  physician,  cheered 
her  up  by  predicting  that  Jill  would  soon  be  running 
about  as  well  as  ever. 

But  the  best  of  all  was  in  the  evening,  when  the 
elder  people  gathered  in  the  parlors  and  played  Twenty 
Questions,  while  the  children  looked  on  for  an  hour 
before  going  to  bed,  much  amused  at  the  sight  of 
grown  people  laughing,  squabbling,  dodging,  and  jok 
ing  as  if  they  had  all  become  young  again  ;  for,  as  every 
one  knows,  it  is  impossible  to  help  lively  skirmishes 
when  that  game  is  played.  Jill  lay  in  the  sofa  corner 
enjoying  it  all  immensely;  for  she  never  saw  any 
thing  so  droll,  and  found  it  capital  fun  to  help  guess 
the  thing,  or  try  to  puzzle  the  opposite  side.  Her 
quick  wits  and  bright  face  attracted  people,  and  in  the 
pauses  of  the  sport  she  held  quite  a  levee,  for  every 
body  was  interested  in  the  little  invalid.  The  girls 
shyly  made  friends  in  their  own  way,  the  mammas  told 


272  JACK  AND  JILL. 

thrilling  tales  of  the  accidents  their  darlings  had  sur 
vived,  several  gentlemen  kindly  offered  their  boats, 
and  the  boys,  with  the  best  intentions  in  life,  suggested 
strolls  of  two  or  three  miles  to  Rafe's  Chasm  and  Nor 
man's  Woe,  or  invited  her  to  tennis  and  archery,  as  if 
violent  exercise  was  the  cure  for  all  human  ills.  She 
was  very  grateful,  and  reluctantly  went  away  to  bed, 
declaring,  when  she  got  upstairs,  that  these  new  friends 
were  the  dearest  people  she  ever  met,  and  The  Wil 
lows  the  most  delightful  place  in  the  whole  world. 

Next  day  a  new  life  began  for  the  young  folks,  —  a 
very  healthy,  happy  life  ;  and  all  threw  themselves  into 
it  so  heartily,  that  it  was  impossible  to  help  getting 
great  good  from  it,  for  these  summer  weeks,  if  well 
spent,  work  miracles  in  tired  bodies  and  souls.  Frank 
took  a  fancy  to  the  bicycle  boy,  and,  being  able  to  hire 
one  of  the  breakneck  articles,  soon  learned  to  ride  it; 
and  the  two  might  be  seen  wildly  working  their  long 
legs  on  certain  smooth  stretches  of  road,  or  getting  up 
their  muscle  rowing  about  the  bay  till  they  were 
almost  as  brown  and  nautical  in  appearance  and  lan 
guage  as  the  fishermen  who  lived  in  nooks  and  corners 
along  the  shore. 

Jack  struck  up  a  great  friendship  with  the  sturdy 
Bacon  and  the  agreeable  Cox  :  the  latter,  being  about 
his  own  age,  was  his  especial  favorite  ;  and  they  soon 
were  called  Box  and  Cox  by  the  other  fellows,  which 
did  not  annoy  them  a  bit,  as  both  had  played  parts  in 
that  immortal  farce.  They  had  capital  times  fishing, 
scrambling  over  the  rocks,  playing  ball  and  tennis,  and 
rainy  days  they  took  possession  of  the  studio  opposite, 
drew  up  the  portcullis,  and  gallantly  defended  the  cas 
tle,  which  some  of  the  others  besieged  with  old  umbrel- 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  273 

las  for  shields,  bats  for  battering-rams,  and  bunches  of 
burrs  for  cannon-balls.  Great  larks  went  on  over  there, 
while  the  girls  applauded  from  the  piazza  or  chamber- 
windows,  and  made  a  gay  flag  for  the  victors  to  display 
from  the  tower  when  the  fight  was  over. 

But  Jill  had  the  best  time  of  all,  for  each  day  brought 
increasing  strength  and  spirits,  and  she  improved  so 
fast  it  was  hard  to  believe  that  she  was  the  same  girl 
who  lay  so  long  almost  helpless  in  the  Bird  Room  at 
home.  Such  lively  letters  as  she  sent  her  mother, 
all  about  her  new  friends,  her  fine  sails,  drives,  and 
little  walks ;  the  good  times  she  had  in  the  evening, 
the  lovely  things  people  gave  her,  and  she  was  learning 
to  make  with  shells  and  sea-weed,  and  what  splendid 
fun  it  was  to  keep  house  in  a  boat. 

This  last  amusement  soon  grew  quite  absorbing,  and 
her  "  cubby,"  as  she  called  it,  rapidly  became  a  pretty 
grotto,  where  she  lived  like  a  little  mermaid,  daily  lov 
ing  more  and  more  the  beauty  of  the  wonderful  sea. 
Finding  the  boat  too  sunny  at  times,  the  boys  cut  long 
willow  boughs  and  arched  them  over  the  seats,  laying 
hemlock  branches  across  till  a  green  roof  made  it  cool 
and  shady  inside.  There  Jill  sat  or  lay  among  her 
cushions  reading,  trying  to  sketch,  sorting  shells,  dry 
ing  gay  sea-weeds,  or  watching  her  crabs,  jelly-fish,  and 
anemones  in  the  old  boiler,  now  buried  in  sand  and 
edged  about  with  moss  from  the  woods. 

Nobody  disturbed  her  treasures,  but  kindly  added  to 
them,  and  often  when  she  went  to  her  nest  she  found 
fruit  or  flowers,  books  or  bon-bons,  laid  ready  for  her. 
Every  one  pitied  and  liked  the  bright  little  girl  who 
could  not  run  and  frisk  with  the  rest,  who  was  so  pa 
tient  and  cheerful  after  her  long  confinement,  ready 

18 


274  JACK  AND  JILL. 

to  help  others,  and  so  grateful  for  any  small  favor. 
She  found  now  that  the  weary  months  had  not  been 
wasted,  and  was  very  happy  to  discover  in  herself  a 
new  sort  of  strength  and  sweetness  that  was  not  only 
a  comfort  to  her,  but  made  those  about  her  love  and 
trust  her.  The  songs  she  had  learned  attracted  the 
babies,  who  would  leave  their  play  to  peep  at  her  and 
listen  when  she  sung  over  her  work.  Passers-by  paused 
to  hear  the  blithe  voice  of  the  bird  in  the  green  cage, 
and  other  invalids,  strolling  on  the  beach,  would  take 
heart  when  they  saw  the  child  so  happy  in  spite  of  her 
great  trial. 

The  boys  kept  all  their  marine  curiosities  for  her, 
and  were  always  ready  to  take  her  a  row  or  a  sail,  as 
the  bay  was  safe  and  that  sort  of  travelling  suited  her 
better  than  driving.  But  the  girls  had  capital  times 
together,  and  it  did  Jill  good  to  see  another  sort  from 
those  she  knew  at  home.  She  had  been  so  much  pet 
ted  of  late,  that  she  was  getting  rather  vain  of  her  small 
accomplishments,  and  being  with  strangers  richer,  better 
bred  and  educated  than  herself,  made  her  more  humble 
in  some  things,  while  it  showed  her  the  worth  of  sucli 
virtues  as  she  could  honestly  claim.  Mamie  Cox  took 
her  to  drive  in  the  fine  carriage  of  her  mamma,  and 
Jill  was  much  impressed  by  the  fact  that  Marnie  was 
not  a  bit  proud  about  it,  and  did  not  put  on  any  airs, 
though  she  had  a  maid  to  take  care  of  her.  Gerty 
wore  pretty  costumes,  and  came  down  with  pink  and 
blue  ribbons  in  her  hair  that  Jill  envied  very  much  ; 
yet  Gerty  liked  her  curls,  and  longed  to  have  some, 
while  her  mother,  "the  lady  from  Philadelphia,"  as 
they  called  her,  was  so  kind  and  gay  that  Jill  quite 
adored  her.  and  always  felt  as  if  sunshine  had  come 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  275 

into  the  room  when  she  entered.  Two  little  sisters 
were  very  interesting  to  her,  and  made  her  long  for 
one  of  her  own  when  she  saw  them  going  about  to 
gether  and  heard  them  talk  of  their  pleasant  home, 
where  the  great  silk  factories  were.  But  they  invited 
her  to  come  and  see  the  wonderful  cocoons,  and  taught 
her  to  knot  pretty  gray  fringe  on  a  cushion,  which  de 
lighted  her,  being  so  new  and  easy.  There  were  sev 
eral  other  nice  little  lasses,  and  they  all  gathered  about 
Jill  with  the  sweet  sympathy  children  are  so  quick  to 
show  toward  those  in  pain  or  misfortune.  She  thought 
they  would  not  care  for  a  poor  little  girl  like  herself, 
yet  here  she  was  the  queen  of  the  troupe,  and  this  dis 
covery  touched  and  pleased  her  very  much. 

In  the  morning  they  camped  round  the  boat  on  the 
stones  with  books,  gay  work,  and  merry  chatter,  till 
bathing-time.  Then  the  beach  was  full  of  life  and  fun, 
for  every  one  looked  so  droll  in  the  flannel  suits,  it  was 
hard  to  believe  that  the  neat  ladies  and  respectable 
gentlemen  who  went  into  the  little  houses  could  be  the 
same  persons  as  the  queer,  short-skirted  women  with 
old  hats  tied  down,  and  bareheaded,  barefooted  men  in 
old  suits,  who  came  skipping  over  the  sand  to  disport 
themselves  in  the  sea  in  the  most  undignified  ways. 
The  boys  raced  about,  looking  like  circus-tumblers, 
and  the  babies  were  regular  little  cupids,  running  away 
from  the  waves  that  tried  to  kiss  their  flying  feet. 

Some  of  the  young  ladies  and  girls  were  famous 
swimmers,  and  looked  very  pretty  in  their  bright  red 
and  blue  costumes,  with  loose  hair  and  gay  stockings, 
as  they  danced  into  the  water  and  floated  away  as  fear 
lessly  as  real  mermaid  en  s.  Jill  had  her  quiet  dip  and 
good  rubbing  each  fine  day,  and  then  lay  upon  the 


276  JACK  AND  JILL. 

warm  sand  watching  the  pranks  of  the  others,  and 
longing  to  run  and  dive  and  shout  and  tumble  with  the 
rest.  Now  that  she  was  among  the  well  and  active,  it 
seemed  harder  to  be  patient  than  when  shut  up  and 
unable  to  stir.  She  felt  so  much  better,  and  had  so 
little  pain  to  remind  her  of  past  troubles,  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  help  forgetting  the  poor  back  and  letting 
her  recovered  spirits  run  away  with  her.  If  Mrs. 
Minot  had  not  kept  good  watch,  she  would  have  been 
off  more  than  once,  so  eager  was  she  to  be  "  like  other 
girls  "  again,  so  difficult  was  it  to  keep  the  restlfess  feet 
quietly  folded  among  the  red  cushions. 

One  day  she  did  yield  to  temptation,  and  took  a 
little  voyage  which  might  have  been  her  last,  owing  to 
the  carelessness  of  those  whom  she  trusted.  It  was  a 
good  lesson,  and  made  her  as  meek  as  a  lamb  during 
the  rest  of  her  stay.  Mrs.  Minot  drove  to  Gloucester 
one  afternoon,  leaving  Jill  safely  established  after  her 
nap  in  the  boat,  with  Gerty  and  Mamie  making  lace 
beside  her. 

"Don't  try  to  walk  or  run  about,  my  dear.  Sit  on 
the  piazza  if  you  get  tired  of  this,  and  amuse  yourself 
quietly  till  I  come  back.  I  '11  not  forget  the  worsted 
and  the  canvas,"  said  Mamma,  peeping  over  the  bank 
for  a  last  word  as  she  waited  for  the  omnibus  to  come 
along. 

"  Oh,  dorft  forget  the  Gibraltars  !  "  cried  Jill,  popping 
her  head  out  of  the  green  roof. 

"  Nor  the  bananas,  please  ! "  added  Gerty,  looking 
round  one  end. 

"Nor  the  pink  and  blue  ribbon  to  tie  our  shell-bas 
kets,"  called  Mamie,  nearly  tumbling  into  the  aquarium 
at  the  other  end 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  277 

Mrs.  Minot  laughed,  and  promised,  and  rumbled 
away,  leaving  Jill  to  an  experience  which  she  never 
forgot. 

For  half  an  hour  the  little  girls  worked  busily,  then 
the  boys  came  for  Gerty  and  Mamie  to  go  to  the  Chasm 
with  a  party  of  friends  who  were  to  leave  next  day. 
Off  they  went,  and  Jill  felt  very  lonely  as  the  gay 
voices  died  away.  Every  one  had  gone  somewhere, 
and  only  little  Harry  Hammond  and  his  maid  were 
on  the  beach.  Two  or  three  sand-pipers  ran  about 
among  the  pebbles,  and  Jill  envied  them  their  nim 
ble  legs  so  much,  that  she  could  not  resist  getting 
up  to  take  a  few  steps.  She  longed  to  run  straight 
away  over  the  firm,  smooth  sand,  and  feel  again  the 
delight  of  swift  motion  ;  but  she  dared  not  try  it,  and 
stood  leaning  on  her  tall  parasol  with  her  book  in  her 
hand,  when  Frank,  Jack,  and  the  bicycle  boy  came 
rowing  lazily  along  and  hailed  her. 

"  Come  for  a  sail,  Jill  ?  Take  you  anywhere  you 
like,"  called  Jack,  touched  by  the  lonely  figure  on  the 
beach. 

"  I  'd  love  to  go,  if  you  will  row.  Mamma  made  me 
promise  not  to  go  sailing  without  a  man  to  take  care  of 
me.  Would  it  spoil  your  fun  to  have  me  ?  "  answered 
Jill,  eagerly. 

"  Not  a  bit ;  come  out  on  the  big  stones  and  we  '11 
take  you  aboard,"  said  Frank,  as  they  steered  to  the 
place  where  she  could  embark  the  easiest. 

"  All  the  rest  are  gone  to  the  Chasm.  I  wanted  to 
go,  because  I  've  i^ever  seen  it ;  but,  of  course,  I  had  to 
give  it  up,  as  I  do  most  of  the  fun ;"  and  Jill  sat  down 
with  an  impatient  sigh. 

"  We  '11  row  you  round  there.     Can't  land,  but  you 


278  JACK  AND  JILL. 

can  see  the  place  and  shout  to  the  others,  if  that  will 
be  any  comfort  to  you,"  proposed  Frank,  as  they  pulled 
away  round  the  pier. 

"  Oh,  yes,  that  would  be  lovely !  "  and  Jill  smiled  at 
Jack,  who  was  steering,  for  she  found  it  impossible  to 
be  dismal  now  with  the  fresh  wind  blowing  in  her  face, 
the  blue  waves  slapping  against  the  boat,  and  three 
good-natured  lads  ready  to  gratify  her  wishes. 

Away  they  went,  laughing  and  talking  gayly  till  they 
came  to  Goodwin's  Rocks,  where  an  unusual  number  of 
people  were  to  be  seen  though  the  tide  was  going  out, 
and  no  white  spray  was  dashing  high  into  the  air  to 
make  a  sight  worth  seeing. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  they  are  about  ?  Never 
saw  such  a  lot  of  folks  at  this  time.  Should  n't  won 
der  if  something  had  happened.  I  say,  put  me  ashore, 
and  I  '11  cut  up  and  see,"  said  the  bicycle  boy,  who  was 
of  an  inquiring  turn. 

"  I  '11  go  with  you,"  said  Frank  ;  "  it  won't  take  but  a 
minute,  and  I  'd  like  to  discover  what  it  is.  Maybe 
something  we  ought  to  know  about." 

So  the  boys  pulled  round  into  a  quiet  nook,  and  the 
two  elder  ones  scrambled  up  the  rocks,  to  disappear  in 
the  crowd.  Five,  ten,  fifteen  minutes  passed,  and  they 
did  not  return.  Jack  grew  impatient,  so  did  Jill,  and 
bade  him  run  up  and  bring  them  back.  Glad  to  know 
what  kept  them,  Jack  departed,  to  be  swallowed  up  in 
his  turn,  for  not  a  sign  of  a  boy  did  she  see  after  that ; 
and,  having  vainly  strained  her  eyes  to  discover  the 
attraction  which  held  them,  she  gave  it  up,  lay  down  on 
their  jackets,  and  began  to  read. 

Then  the  treacherous  tide,  as  it  ebbed  lower  and 
lower  down  the  beach,  began  to  lure  the  boat  away ; 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  279 

for  it  was  not  fastened,  and  when  lightened  of  its  load 
was  an  easy  prize  to  the  hungry  sea,  always  ready  to 
steal  all  it  can.  Jill  knew  nothing  of  this,  for  her  story 
was  dull,  the  gentle  motion  proved  soothing,  and  before 
she  knew  it  she  was  asleep.  Little  by  little  the  run 
away  boat  slid  farther  from  the  shore,  and  presently 
was  floating  out  to  sea  with  its  drowsy  freight,  while 
the  careless  boys,  unconscious  of  the  time  they  were 
wasting,  lingered  to  see  group  after  group  photo 
graphed  by  the  enterprising  man  who  had  trundled  his 
camera  to  the  rocks. 

In  the  midst  of  a  dream  about  home,  Jill  was  roused 
by  a  loud  shout,  and,  starting  up  so  suddenly  that  the 
sun-umbrella  went  overboard,  she  found  herself  sailing 
off  alone,  while  the  distracted  lads  roared  and  beckoned 
vainly  from  the  cove.  The  oars  lay  at  their  feet,  where 
they  left  them ;  and  the  poor  child  was  quite  helpless, 
for  she  could  not  manage  the  sail,  and  even  the  parasol, 
with  which  she  might  have  paddled  a  little,  had  gone 
down  with  all  sail  set.  For  a  minute,  Jill  was  so 
frightened  that  she  could  only  look  about  her  with  a 
scared  face,  and  wonder  if  drowning  was  a  very  dis 
agreeable  thing.  Then  the  sight  of  the  bicycle  boy 
struggling  with  Jack,  who  seemed  inclined  to  swim 
after  her,  and  Frank  shouting  wildly,  "  Hold  on !  Come 
back !  "  made  her  laugh  in  spite  of  her  fear,  it  was  so 
comical,  and  their  distress  so  much  greater  than  hers, 
since  it  was  their  own  carelessness  which  caused  the 
trouble. 

"  I  can't  come  back !  There 's  nothing  to  hold  on  to  ! 
You  did  n't  fasten  me,  and  now  I  don't  know  where 
I  'm  going ! "  cried  Jill,  looking  from  the  shore  to  the 
treacherous  sea  that  was  gently  carrying  her  away. 


280  JACK  AND  JILL. 

"  Keep  cool !  We  '11  get  a  boat  and  come  after  you," 
roared  Frank,  before  he  followed  Jack,  who  had  col 
lected  his  wits  and  was  tearing  up  the  rocks  like  a 
chamois  hunter. 

The  bicycle  boy  calmly  sat  down  to  keep  his  eye  on 
the  runaway,  calling  out  from  time  to  time  such  cheer 
ing  remarks  as  "  All  aboard  for  Liverpool !  Give  my 
love  to  Victoria !  Luff  and  bear  away  when  you  come 
to  Halifax !  If  you  are  hard  up  for  provisions,  you  '11 
find  an  apple  and  some  bait  in  my  coat-pocket,"  and 
other  directions  for  a  comfortable  voyage,  till  his  voice 
was  lost  in  the  distance  as  a  stronger  current  bore  her 
swiftly  away  and  the  big  waves  began  to  tumble  and 
splash. 

At  first  Jill  had  laughed  at  his  efforts  to  keep  up  her 
spirits,  but  when  the  boat  floated  round  a  point  of  rock 
that  shut  in  the  cove,  she  felt  all  alone,  and  sat  quite 
still,  wondering  what  would  become  of  her.  She  turned 
her  back  to  the  sea  and  looked  at  the  dear,  safe  land, 
which  never  had  seemed  so  green  and  beautiful  before. 
Up  on  the  hill  rustled  the  wood  through  which  the 
happy  party  were  wandering  to  the  Chasm.  On  the 
rocks  she  still  saw  the  crowd  all  busy  with  their  own 
affairs,  unconscious  of  her  danger.  Here  and  there 
artists  were  sketching  in  picturesque  spots,  and  in  one 
place  an  old  gentleman  sat  fishing  peacefully.  Jill 
called  and  waved  her  handkerchief,  but  he  never  looked 
up,  and  an  ugly  little  dog  barked  at  her  in  what  seemed 
to  her  a  most  cruel  way. 

"Nobody  sees  or  hears  or  cares,  and  those  horrid 
boys  will  never  catch  up ! "  she  cried  in  despair,  as  the 
boat  began  to  rock  more  and  more,  and  the  loud  swash 
of  water  dashing  in  and  out  of  the  chasm  drew  nearer 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  281 

and  nearer.  Holding  on  now  with  both  hands  she 
turned  and  looked  straight  before  her,  pale  and  shiver 
ing,  while  her  eyes  tried  to  see  some  sign  of  hope 
among  the  steep  cliffs  that  rose  up  on  the  left.  No 
one  was  there,  though  usually  at  this  hour  they  were 
full  of  visitors,  and  it  was  time  for  the  walkers  to  have 
arrived. 

"  I  wonder  if  Gerty  and  Mamie  will  be  sorry  if  I  'm 
drowned,"  thought  Jill,  remembering  the  poor  girl  who 
had  been  lost  in  the  Chasm  not  long  ago.  Her  lively 
fancy  pictured  the  grief  of  her  friends  at  her  loss ;  but 
that  did  not  help  or  comfort  her  now,  and  as  her  anx 
ious  gaze  wandered  along  the  shore,  she  said  aloud,  in 
a  pensive  tone,  — 

"  Perhaps  I  shall  be  wrecked  on  Norman's  Woe,  and 
somebody  will  make  poetry  about  me.  It  would  be 
pretty  to  read,  but  I  don't  want  to  die  that  way.  Oh, 
why  did  I  come  !  Why  did  n't  I  stay  safe  and  com 
fortable  in  my  own  boat  ?  " 

At  the  thought  a  sob  rose,  and  poor  Jill  laid  her 
head  down  on  her  lap  to  cry  with  all  her  heart,  feeling 
very  helpless,  small,  and  forsaken  alone  there  on  the 
great  sea.  In  the  midst  of  her  tears  came  the  thought, 
"  When  people  are  in  danger,  they  ask  God  to  save 
them  ;"  and,  slipping  down  upon  her  knees,  she  said  her 
prayer  as  she  had  never  said  it  before,  for  when  human 
help  seems  gone  we  turn  to  Him  as  naturally  as  lost 
children  cry  to  their  father,  and  feel  sure  that  he  will 
hear  and  answer  them. 

After  that  she  felt  better,  and  wiped  away  the  drops 
that  blinded  her,  to  look  out  again  like  a  shipwrecked 
mariner  watching  for  a  sail.  And  there  it  was !  close 
by,  coming  swiftly  on  with  a  man  behind  it,  a  sturdy 


282  JACK  AND  JILL. 

brown  fisher,  busy  with  his  lobster-pots,  and  quite 
unconscious  how  like  an  angel  he  looked  to  the  help 
less  little  girl  in  the  rudderless  boat. 

"  Hi !  hi !  oh,  please  do  stop  and  get  me  !  I  'm  lost, 
no  oars,  nobody  to  fix  the  sail !  Oh,  oh !  please  come  ! " 
screamed  Jill,  waving  her  hat  frantically  as  the  other 
boat  skimmed  by  and  the  man  stared  at  her  as  if  she 
really  was  a  mermaid  with  a  fishy  tail. 

"  Keep  still !  I  '11  come  about  and  fetch  you  ! "  he 
called  out ;  and  Jill  obeyed,  sitting  like  a  little  image  of 
faith,  till  with  a  good  deal  of  shifting  and  flapping  of 
the  sail  the  other  boat  came  alongside  and  took  her  in 
tow. 

A  few  words  told  the  story,  and  in  five  minutes  she 
was  sitting  snugly  tucked  up  watching  an  unpleasant 
mass  of  lobsters  flap  about  dangerously  near  her  toes, 
while  the  boat  bounded  over  the  waves  with  a  delight 
ful  motion,  and  every  instant  brought  her  nearer  home. 
She  did  not  say  much,  but  felt  a  good  deal ;  and  when 
they  met  two  boats  coming  to  meet  her,  manned  by 
very  anxious  crews  of  men  and  boys,  she  was  so  pale 
and  quiet  that  Jack  was  quite  bowed  down  with 
remorse,  and  Frank  nearly  pitched  the  bicycle  boy 
overboard  because  he  gayly  asked  Jill  how  she  left  her 
friends  in  England.  There  was  great  rejoicing  over 
her,  for  the  people  on  the  rocks  had  heard  of  her  loss, 
and  ran  about  like  ants  when  their  hill  is  disturbed. 
Of  course  half  a  dozen  amiable  souls  posted  off  to  the 
Willows  to  tell  the  family  that  the  little  girl  was 
drowned,  so  that  when  the  rescuers  appeared  quite  a 
crowd  was  assembled  on  the  beach  to  welcome  her. 
But  Jill  felt  so  used  up  with  her  own  share  of  the 
excitement  that  she  was  glad  to  be  carried  to  the  house 


PEBBLY  BEACH.  283 

by  Frank  and  Jack,  and  laid  upon  her  bed,  where  Mrs. 
Hammond  soon  restored  her  with  sugar-coated  pills, 
and  words  even  sweeter  and  more  soothing. 

Other  people,  busied  with  their  own  pleasures,  for 
got  all  about  it  by  the  next  day ;  but  Jill  remembered 
that  hour  long  afterward,  both  awake  and  asleep,  for 
her  dreams  were  troubled,  and  she  often  started  up 
imploring  some  one  to  save  her.  Then  she  would 
recall  the  moment  when,  feeling  most  helpless,  she  had 
asked  for  help,  and  it  had  come  as  quickly  as  if  that 
tearful  little  cry  had  been  heard  and  answered,  though 
her  voice  had  been  drowned  by  the  dash  of  the  waves 
that  seemed  ready  to  devour  her.  This  made  a  deep 
impression  on  her,  and  a  sense  of  childlike  faith  in  the 
Father  of  all  began  to  grow  up  within  her;  for  in  that 
lonely  voyage,  short  as  it  was,  she  had  found  a  very 
precious  treasure  to  keep  for  ever,  to  lean  on,  and  to 
love  during  the  longer  voyage  which  all  must  take 
before  we  reach  our  home. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

A    HAPPY  DAY. 

dear !  only  a  week  more,  and  then  we  must 
go  back.  Don't  you  hate  the  thoughts  of  it  ?  " 
said  Jack,  as  he  was  giving  Jill  her  early  walk  on  the 
beach  one  August  morning. 

u  Yes,  it  will  be  dreadful  to  leave  Gerty  and  Mamie 
and  all  the  nice  people.  But  I  'm  so  much  better  I 
won't  have  to  be  shut  up  again,  even  if  I  don't  go  to 
school.  How  I  long  to  see  Merry  and  Molly.  Dear 
things,  if  it  wasn't  for  them  I  should  hate  going  home 
more  than  you  do,"  answered  Jill,  stepping  along  quite 
briskly,  and  finding  it  very  hard  to  resist  breaking  into 
a  skip  or  a  run,  she  felt  so  well  and  gay. 

"  Wish  they  could  be  here  to-day  to  see  the  fun," 
said  Jack,  for  it  was  the  anniversary  of  the  founding  of 
the  place,  and  the  people  celebrated  it  by  all  sorts  of 
festivity. 

"I  did  want  to  ask  Molly,  but  your  mother  is  so 
good  to  me  I  could  n't  find  courage  to  do  it.  Mammy 
told  me  not  to  ask  for  a  thing,  and  I  'm  sure  I  don't  get 
a  chance.  I  feel  just  as  if  I  was  your  truly  born  sister, 
Jack." 

"That's  all  right,  I'm  glad  you  do,"  answered  Jack, 
comfortably,  though  his  mind  seemed  a  little  absent 


A  HAPPY  DAY.  285 

and  his  eyes  twinkled  when  she  spoke  of  Molly.  "  Now, 
you  sit  in  the  cubby-house,  and  keep  quiet  till  the  boat 
comes  in.  Then  the  fun  will  begin,  and  you  must  be 
fresh  and  ready  to  enjoy  it.  Don't  run  off,  now,  I  shall 
want  to  know  where  to  find  you  by  and  by." 

"No  more  running  off,  thank  you.  I  '11  stay  here  till 
you  come,  and  finish  this  box  for  Molly ;  she  has  a  birth 
day  this  week,  and  I  Ve  written  to  ask  what  day,  so  I 
can  send  it  right  up  and  surprise  her." 

Jack's  eyes  twinkled .  more  than  ever  as  he  helped 
Jill  settle  herself  in  the  boat,  and  then  with  a  whoop 
he  tore  over  the  beach,  as  if  practising  for  the  race 
which  was  to  come  off  in  the  afternoon. 

Jill  was  so  busy  with  her  work  that  time  went  quickly, 
and  the  early  boat  came  in  just  as  the  last  pink  shell 
was  stuck  in  its  place.  Putting  the  box  in  the  sun  to 
dry,  she  leaned  out  of  her  nook  to  watch  the  gay  par 
ties  land,  and  go  streaming  up  the  pier  along  the  road 
that  went  behind  the  bank  that  sheltered  her.  Flocks 
of  children  were  running  about  on  the  sand,  and  pres 
ently  strangers  appeared,  eager  to  see  and  enjoy  all  the 
delights  of  this  gala-day. 

"There's  a  fat  little  boy  who  looks  ever  so  much 
like  Boo,"  said  Jill  to  herself,  watching  the  people  and 
hoping  they  would  not  come  and  find  her,  since  she  had 
promised  to  stay  till  Jack  returned. 

The  fat  little  boy  was  staring  about  him  in  a  blissful 
sort  of  maze,  holding  a  wooden  shovel  in  one  hand  and 
the  skirts  of  a  young  girl  with  the  other.  Her  back 
was  turned  to  Jill,  but  something  in  the  long  brown 
braid  with  a  fly-away  blue  bow  hanging  down  her 
back  looked  very  familiar  to  Jill.  So  did  the  gray 
suit  and  the  Japanese  umbrella ;  but  the  hat  was 


286  JACK  AND  JILL. 

strange,  and  while  she  was  thinking  how  natural  the 
boots  looked  the  girl  turned  round. 

"  Why,  how  much  she  looks  like  Molly !  It  can't 
be  —  yes,  it  might,  I  do  believe  it  is  !  "  cried  Jill,  start 
ing  up  and  hardly  daring  to  trust  her  own  eyes. 

As  she  came  out  of  her  nest  and  showed  herself,  there 
could  be  no  doubt  about  the  other  girl,  for  she  gave 
one  shout  and  came  racing  over  the  beach  with  both 
arms  out,  while  her  hat  blew  off  unheeded,  and  the 
gay  umbrella  flew  away,  to  the  great  delight  of  all  the 
little  people  except  Boo,  who  was  upset  by  his  sister's 
impetuous  rush,  and  lay  upon  his  back  howling.  Molly 
did  not  do  all  the  running,  though,  and  Jill  got  her 
wish,  for,  never  stopping  to  think  of  herself,  she  was 
off"  at  once,  and  met  her  friend  half-way  with  an  answer 
ing  cry.  It  was  a  pretty  sight  to  see  them  run  into 
one  another's  arms  and  hug  and  kiss  and  talk  and 
skip  in  such  a  state  of  girlish  joy  they  never  cared 
who  saw  or  laughed  at  their  innocent  raptures. 

"You  darling  dear!  where  did  you  come  from?" 
cried  Jill,  holding  Molly  by  both  shoulders,  and  shaking 
her  a  little  to  be  sure  she  was  real. 

"  Mrs.  Minot  sent  for  us  to  spend  a  week.  You  look 
so  well,  I  can't  believe  my  eyes ! "  answered  Molly, 
patting  Jill's  cheeks  and  kissing  them  over  and  over, 
as  if  to  make  sure  the  bright  color  would  not  come  off. 

"  A  week  ?  How  splendid  !  Oh,  I  've  such  heaps  to 
tell  and  show  you ;  come  right  over  to  my  cubby  and 
see  how  lovely  it  is,"  said  Jill,  forgetting  everybody 
else  in  her  delight  at  getting  Molly. 

"  I  must  get  poor  Boo,  and  my  hat  and  umbrella.  I 
left  them  all  behind  me  when  I  saw  you,"  laughed 
Molly,  looking  back. 


A   HAPPY  DAY.  287 

But  Mrs.  Minot  and  Jack  had  consoled  Boo  and  col 
lected  the  scattered  property,  so  the  girls  went  on  arm 
in  arm,  and  had  a  fine  time  before  any  one  had  the 
heart  to  disturb  them.  Molly  was  charmed  with  the 
boat,  and  Jill  very  glad  the  box  was  done  in  season. 
Both  had  so  much  to  tell  and  hear  and  plan,  that  they 
would  have  sat  there  for  ever  if  bathing- time  had  not 
come,  and  the  beach  suddenly  looked  like  a  bed  of  red 
and  yellow  tulips,  for  every  one  took  a  dip,  and  the 
strangers  added  much  to  the  fun. 

Molly  could  swim  like  a  duck,  and  quite  covered  her 
self  with  glory  by  diving  off  the  pier.  Jack  undertook 
to  teach  Boo,  who  was  a  promising  pupil,  being  so 
plump  that  he  could  not  sink  if  he  tried.  Jill  was 
soon  through,  and  lay  on  the  sand  enjoying  the  antics 
of  the  bathers  till  she  was  so  faint  with  laughter  she 
was  glad  to  hear  the  dinner-horn  and  do  the  honors  of 
the  Willows  to  Molly,  whose  room  was  next  hers. 

Boat-races  came  first  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  girls 
watched  them,  sitting  luxuriously  in  the  nest,  with  the 
ladies  and  children  close  by.  The  sailing-matches  were 
very  pretty  to  see ;  but  Molly  and  Jill  were  more  inter 
ested  in  the  rowing,  for  Frank  and  the  bicycle  boy 
pulled  one  boat,  and  the  friends  felt  that  this  one  must 
win.  It  did,  though  the  race  was  not  very  exciting 
nor  the  prize  of  great  worth ;  but  the  boys  and  girls 
were  satisfied,  and  Jack  was  much  exalted,  for  he 
always  told  Frank  he  could  do  great  things  if  he  would 
only  drop  books  and  "  go  in  on  his  muscle." 

Foot-races  followed,  and,  burning  to  distinguish  him 
self  also,  Jack  insisted  on  trying,  though  his  mother 
warned  him  that  the  weak  leg  might  be  harmed,  and 
he  had  his  own  doubts  about  it,  as  he  was  all  out  of 


288  JACK  AND  JILL. 

practice.  However,  he  took  his  place  with  a  handker 
chief  tied  round  his  head,  red  shirt  and  stockings,  and 
his  sleeves  rolled  up  as  if  he  meant  business.  Jill  and 
Molly  could  not  sit  still  during  this  race,  and  stood  on 
the  bank  quite  trembling  with  excitement  as  the  half- 
dozen  runners  stood  in  a  line  at  the  starting-post  wait 
ing  for  the  word  "  Go  ! " 

Off  they  went  at  last  over  the  smooth  beach  to  the 
pole  with  the  flag  at  the  further  end,  and  every  one 
watched  them  with  mingled  interest  and  merriment, 
for  they  were  a  droll  set,  and  the  running  not  at  all 
scientific  with  most  of  them.  One  }roung  fisherman 
with  big  boots  over  his  trousers  started  off  at  a  great 
pace,  pounding  along  in  the  most  dogged  way,  while  a 
little  chap  in  a  tight  bathing-suit  with  very  thin  legs 
skimmed  by  him,  looking  so  like  a  sand-piper  it  was 
impossible  to  help  laughing  at  both.  Jack's  former 
training  stood  him  in  good  stead  now;  for  he  went  to 
work  in  professional  style,  and  kept  a  steady  trot  till 
the  flag-pole  had  been  passed,  then  he  put  on  his  speed 
and  shot  ahead  of  all  the  rest,  several  of  whom  broke 
down  and  gave  up.  But  Cox  and  Bacon  held  on  gal 
lantly  ;  and  soon  it  was  evident  that  the  sturdy  legs  in 
the  knickerbockers  were  gaining  fast,  for  Jack  gave 
his  ankle  an  ugly  wrench  on  a  round  pebble,  and  the 
weak  knee  began  to  fail.  He  did  his  best,  however, 
and  quite  a  breeze  of  enthusiasm  stirred  the  spectators 
as  the  three  boys  came  down  the  course  like  mettlesome 
horses,  panting,  pale,  or  purple,  but  each  bound  to  win 
at  any  cost. 

"  Now,  Bacon  ! "  "  Go  it,  Minot ! "  "  Hit  him  up, 
Cox  ! "  «  Jack  's  ahead ! "  «  No,  he  is  n't ! "  "  Here 
they  come  !  "  "  Bacon's  done  it ! "  shouted  the  other 


A   HAPPY  DAY.  289 

boys,  and  they  were  right ;  Bacon  had  won,  for  the 
gray  legs  came  in  just  half  a  yard  ahead  of  the  red 
ones,  and  Minot  tumbled  into  his  brother's  arms  with 
hardly  breath  enough  left  to  gasp  out,  good-humoredly, 
"  All  right,  I  'm  glad  he  beat !  " 

Then  the  victor  was  congratulated  and  borne  off  by 
his  friends  to  refresh  himself,  while  the  lookers-on 
scattered  to  see  a  game  of  tennis  and  the  shooting  of  the 
Archery  Club  up  at  the  hotel.  Jack  was  soon  rested, 
and,  making  light  of  his  defeat,  insisted  on  taking  the 
girls  to  see  the  fun.  So  they  drove  up  in  the  old  omni 
bus,  and  enjoyed  the  pretty  sight  very  much  ;  for  the 
young  ladies  were  in  uniform,  and  the  broad  green  rib 
bons  over  the  white  dresses,  the  gay  quivers,  long  bows, 
and  big  targets,  made  a  lively  scene.  The  shooting 
was  good  ;  a  handsome  damsel  got  the  prize  of  a  dozen 
arrows,  and  every  one  clapped  in  the  most  enthusiastic 
manner. 

Molly  and  Jill  did  not  care  about  tennis,  so  they 
went  home  to  rest  and  dress  for  the  evening,  because 
to  their  minds  the  dancing,  the  illumination,  and  the 
fireworks  were  the  best  fun  of  all.  Jill's  white  bunting 
with  cherry  ribbons  was  very  becoming,  and  the  lively 
feet  in  the  new  slippers  patted  the  floor  impatiently  as 
the  sound  of  dance  music  came  down  to  the  Willows 
after  tea,  and  the  other  girls  waltzed  on  the  wide 
piazza  because  they  could  not  keep  still. 

"No  dancing  for  me,  but  Molly  must  have  a  good 
time.  You  '11  see  that  she  does,  won't  you,  boys  ?  " 
said  Jill,  who  knew  that  her  share  of  the  fun  would  be 
lying  on  a  settee  and  watching  the  rest  enjoy  her  favor 
ite  pastime. 

Frank  and  Jack  promised,  and  kept  their  word  hand 
19 


290  JACK  AND  JILL. 

somely ;  for  there  was  plenty  of  room  in  the  great 
dancing-hall  at  the  hotel,  and  the  band  in  the  pavilion 
played  such  inspiring  music  that,  as  the  bicycle  boy 
said,  "  Every  one  who  had  a  leg  could  n't  help  shaking 
it."  Molly  was  twirled  about  to  her  heart's  content, 
and  flew  hither  and  thither  like  a  blue  butterfly ;  for  all 
the  lads  liked  her,  and  she  kept  running  up  to  tell  Jill 
the  funny  things  they  said  and  did. 

As  night  darkened  from  all  the  houses  in  the  valley, 
on  the  cliffs  and  along  the  shore  lights  shone  and 
sparkled ;  for  every  one  decorated  with  gay  lanterns, 
and  several  yachts  in  the  bay  strung  colored  lamps 
about  the  little  vessels,  making  a  pretty  picture  on  the 
quiet  sea.  Jill  thought  she  had  never  seen  anything 
so  like  fairy-land,  and  felt  very  like  one  in  a  dream  as 
she  drove  slowly  up  and  down  with  Mamie,  Gerty, 
Molly,  and  Mrs.  Cox  in  the  carriage,  so  that  she  might 
see  it  all  without  too  much  fatigue.  It  was  very 
lovely;  and  when  rockets  began  to  whizz,  filling  the 
air  with  golden  rain,  a  shower  of  colored  stars,  fiery 
dragons,  or  glittering  wheels,  the  girls  could  only 
shriek  with  delight,  and  beg  to  stay  a  little  longer  each 
time  the  prudent  lady  proposed  going  home. 

It  had  to  be  at  last ;  but  Molly  and  Jill  comforted 
themselves  by  a  long  talk  in  bed,  for  it  was  impossible 
to  sleep  with  glares  of  light  coming  every  few  minutes, 
flocks  of  people  talking  and  tramping  by  in  the  road, 
and  bursts  of  music  floating  down  to  them  as  the  older 
but  not  wiser  revellers  kept  up  the  merriment  till  a 
late  hour.  They  dropped  off  at  last ;  but  Jill  had  the 
nightmare,  and  Molly  was  waked  up  by  a  violent  jerking 
of  her  braid  as  Jill  tried  to  tow  her  along,  dreaming 
she  was  a  boat. 


A   HAPPY  DAY.  291 

They  were  too  sleepy  to  laugh  much  then,  but  next 
morning  they  made  merry  over  it,  and  went  to  break 
fast  with  such  happy  faces  that  all  the  young  folks  pro 
nounced  Jill's  friend  a  most  delightful  girl.  What  a 
good  time  Molly  did  have  that  week !  Other  people 
were  going  to  leave  also,  and  therefore  much  picnicking, 
boating,  and  driving  was  crowded  into  the  last  days. 
Clambakes  on  the  shore,  charades  in  the  studio,  sew 
ing-parties  at  the  boat,  evening  frolics  in  the  big  dining- 
room,  farewell  calls,  gifts,  and  invitations,  all  sorts  of 
plans  for  next  summer,  and  vows  of  eternal  friendship 
exchanged  between  people  who  would  soon  forget  each 
other.  It  was  very  pleasant,  till  poor  Boo  innocently 
added  to  the  .excitement  by  poisoning  a  few  of  his 
neighbors  with  a  bad  lobster. 

The  ambitious  little  soul  pined  to  catch  one  of  these 
mysterious  but  lovely  red  creatures,  and  spent  days 
fishing  on  the  beach,  investigating  holes  and  corners, 
and  tagging  after  the  old  man  who  supplied  the  house. 
One  day  after  a  high  wind  he  found  several  a  lobs  " 
washed  up  on  the  beach,  and,  though  disappointed  at 
their  color,  he  picked  out  a  big  one,  and  set  off  to  show 
his  prize  to  Molly.  Half-way  home  he  met  the  old 
man  on  his  way  with  a  basket  of  fish,  and  being  tired 
of  lugging  his  contribution  laid  it  with  the  others, 
meaning  to  explain  later.  No  one  saw  him  do  it,  as 
the  old  man  was  busy  with  his  pipe  ;  and  Boo  ran  back 
to  get  more  dear  lobs,  leaving  his  treasure  to  go  into 
the  kettle  and  appear  at  supper,  by  which  time  he  had 
forgotten  all  about  it. 

Fortunately  none  of  the  children  ate  any,  but  several 
older  people  were  made  ill,  and  quite  a  panic  prevailed 
that  night  as  one  after  the  other  called  up  the  doctor, 


292  JACK  AND  JILL. 

who  was  boarding  close  by ;  and  good  Mrs.  Grey,  the 
hostess,  ran  about  with  hot  flannels,  bottles  of  medicine, 
and  distracted  messages  from  room  to  room.  All  were 
comfortable  by  morning,  but  the  friends  of  the  sufferers 
lay  in  wait  for  the  old  fisherman,  and  gave  him  a  good 
scolding  for  his  carelessness.  The  poor  man  was  pro 
testing  his  innocence  when  Boo,  who  was  passing  by, 
looked  into  the  basket,  and  asked  what  had  become  of 
his  lob.  A  few  questions  brought  the  truth  to  light, 
and  a  general  laugh  put  every  one  in  good  humor, 
when  poor  Boo  mildly  said,  by  way  of  explanation,— 

"  I  fought  I  was  helpin'  Mrs.  Dray,  and  I  did  want 
to  see  the  dreen  lob  come  out  all  red  when  she  boiled 
him.  But  I  fordot,  and  I  don't  fink  I  '11  ever  find  such 
a  nice  big  one  any  more." 

"  For  our  sakes,  I  hope  you  won't,  my  dear,"  said 
Mrs.  Hammond,  who  had  been  nursing  one  of  the 
sufferers. 

"  It 's  lucky  we  are  going  home  to-morrow,  or  that 
child  would  be  the  death  of  himself  and  everybody 
else.  He  is  perfectly  crazy  about  fish,  and  I  've  pulled 
him  out  of  that  old  lobster-pot  on  the  beach  a  dozen 
times,"  groaned  Molly,  much  afflicted  by  the  mishaps  of 
her  young  charge. 

There  was  a  great  breaking  up  next  day,  and  the  old 
omnibus  went  off  to  the  station  with  Bacon  hanging  on 
behind,  the  bicycle  boy  and  his  iron  whirligig  atop, 
and  heads  popping  out  of  all  the  windows  for  last 
good-byes.  Our  party  and  the  Hammonds  were  going 
by  boat,  and  were  all  ready  to  start  for  the  pier 
when  Boo  and  little  Harry  were  missing.  Molly,  the 
maid,  and  both  boys  ran  different  ways  to  find  them ; 
and  all  sorts  of  dreadful  suggestions  were  being  made 


A   HAPPY  DAY.  293 

when  shouts  of  laughter  were  heard  from  the  beach, 
and  the  truants  appeared,  proudly  dragging  in  Harry's 
little  wagon  a  dead  devil-fish,  as  the  natives  call  that 
ugly  thing  which  looks  like  a  magnified  tadpole, — 
all  head  and  no  body. 

"  We  've  dot  him !  "  called  the  innocents,  tugging  up 
their  prize  with  such  solemn  satisfaction  it  was  impos 
sible  to  help  laughing. 

"  I  always  wanted  to  tatch  a  whale,  and  this  is  a 
baby  one,  I  fink.  A  boy  said,  when  they  wanted  to  die 
they  corned  on  the  sand  and  did  it,  and  we  saw  this 
one  go  dead  just  now.  Ain't  he  pretty?"  asked  Boo, 
displaying  the  immense  mouth  with  fond  pride,  while 
his  friend  flapped  the  tail. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  him  ? "  said  Mrs. 
Hammond,  regarding  her  infant  as  if  she  often  asked 
herself  the  same  question  about  her  boy. 

"  Wap  him  up  in  a  paper  and  tate  him  home  to  pay 
wid,"  answered  Harry,  with  such  confidence  in  his  big 
blue  eyes  that  it  was  very  hard  to  disappoint  his  hopes 
and  tell  him  the  treasure  must  be  left  behind. 

Wails  of  despair  burst  from  both  children  as  the 
hard-hearted  boys  tipped  out  the  little  whale,  and  hus 
tled  the  indignant  fishermen  on  board  the  boat,  which 
had  been  whistling  for  them  impatiently.  Boo  recov 
ered  his  spirits  first,  and  gulping  down  a  sob  that  nearly 
shook  his  hat  off,  consoled  his  companion  in  affliction 
and  convulsed  his  friends  by  taking  from  his  pocket 
several  little  crabs,  the  remains  of  a  jelly-fish,  and  such 
a  collection  of  pebbles  that  Frank  understood  why  he 
found  the  fat  boy  such  a  burden  when  he  shouldered 
him,  kicking  and  howling,  in  the  late  run  to  the  boat. 
These  delicate  toys  healed  the  wounds  of  Boo  and 


294  JACK  AND   JILL. 

Harry,  and  they  were  soon  happily  walking  the  little 
"  trabs  "  about  inside  a  stone  wall  of  their  own  build 
ing,  while  the  others  rested  after  their  exertions,  and 
laid  plans  for  coming  to  the  Willows  another  year,  as 
people  usually  did  who  had  once  tasted  the  whole 
some  delights  and  cordial  hospitality  of  this  charming 
place. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

CATTLE    SHOW. 

THE  children  were  not  the  only  ones  who  had 
learned  something  at  Pebbly  Beach.  Mrs.  Mi- 
not  had  talked  a  good  deal  with  some  very  superior 
persons,  and  received  light  upon  various  subjects 
which  had  much  interested  or  perplexed  her.  While 
the  ladies  worked  or  walked  together,  they  naturally 
spoke  oftenest  and  most  earnestly  about  their  children, 
and  each  contributed  her  experience.  Mrs.  Hammond, 
who  had  been  a  physician  for  many  years,  was  wise  in 
the  care  of  healthy  little  bodies,  and  the  cure  of  sick 
ones.  Mrs.  Channing,  who  had  read,  travelled,  and 
observed  much  in  the  cause  of  education,  had  many 
useful  hints  about  the  training  of  young  minds  and 
hearts.  Several  teachers  reported  their  trials,  and  all 
the  mothers  were  eager  to  know  how  to  bring  up  their 
boys  and  girls  to  be  healthy,  happy,  useful  men  and 
women. 

As  young  people  do  not  care  for  such  discussions,  we 
will  not  describe  them,  but  as  the  impression  they 
made  upon  one  of  the  mammas  affected  our  hero  and 
heroine,  we  must  mention  the  changes  which  took 
place  in  their  life  when  they  all  got  home  again. 

"  School  begins  to-morrow.    Oh,  dear ! "  sighed  Jack, 


296  JACK  AND  JILL. 

as  he  looked  up  his  books  in  the  Bird  Room,  a  day  or 
two  after  their  return. 

"  Don't  you  want  to  go  ?  I  long  to,  but  don't  be 
lieve  I  shall.  I  saw  our  mothers  talking  to  the  doctor 
last  night,  but  I  have  n't  dared  to  ask  what  they  de 
cided,"  said  Jill,  affectionately  eying  the  long-unused 
books  in  her  little  library. 

"I 've  had  such  a  jolly  good  time,  that  I  hate  to  be 
shut  up  all  day  worse  than  ever.  Don't  you,  Frank  ?  " 
asked  Jack,  with  a  vengeful  slap  at  the  arithmetic 
which  was  the  torment  of  his  life. 

"  Well,  I  confess  I  don't  hanker  for  school  as  much 
as  I  expected.  I'd  rather  take  a  spin  on  the  old  bicy% 
cle.  Our  roads  are  so  good,  it  is  a  great  temptation  to 
hire  a  machine,  and  astonish  the  natives.  That 's  what 
comes  of  idleness.  So  brace  up,  my  boy,  and  go  to 
work,  for  vacation  is  over,"  answered  Frank,  gravely 
regarding  the  tall  pile  of  books  before  him,  as  if  trying 
to  welcome  his  old  friends,  or  tyrants,  rather,  for  they 
ruled  him  with  a  rod  of  iron  when  he  once  gave  him 
self  up  to  them. 

"  Ah,  but  vacation  is  not  over,  my  dears,"  said  Mrs. 
Minot,  hearing  the  last  words  as  she  came  in  prepared 
to  surprise  her  family. 

"  Glad  of  it.  How  much  longer  is  it  to  be  ?  "  asked 
Jack,  hoping  for  a  week  at  least. 

"  Two  or  three  years  for  some  of  you." 

"  What  ?  "  cried  all  three,  in  utter  astonishment,  as 
they  stared  at  Mamma,  who  could  not  help  smiling, 
though  she  was  very  much  in  earnest. 

"  For  the  next  two  or  three  years  I  intend  to  culti 
vate  my  boys'  bodies,  and  let  their  minds  rest  a  good 
deal,  from  books  at  least.  There  is  plenty  to  learn  out- 


CATTLE   SHOW.  297 

side  of  school-houses,  and  I  don't  mean  to  shut  you  up 
just  when  you  most  need  all  the  air  and  exercise  you 
can  get.  Good  health,  good  principles,  and  a  good 
education  are  the  three  blessings  I  ask  for  you,  and  I 
am  going  to  make  sure  of  the  first,  as  a  firm  foundation 
for  the  other  two." 

"But,  mother,  what  becomes  of  college?"  asked 
Frank,  rather  disturbed  at  this  change  of  base. 

"  Put  it  off  for  a  year,  and  see  if  you  are  not  better 
fitted  for  it  then  than  now." 

"  But  I  am  already  fitted  :  I've  worked  like  a  tiger 
all  this  year,  and  I  'm  sure  I  shall  pass." 

"Ready  in  one  way,  but  not  in  another.  That  hard 
work  is  no  preparation  for  four  years  of  still  harder 
study.  It  has  cost  you  these  round  shoulders,  many 
a  headache,  and  consumed  hours  when  you  had  far 
better  have  been  on  the  river  or  in  the  fields.  I  can 
not  have  you  break  down,  as  so  many  boys  do,  or  pull 
through  at  the  cost  of  ill-health  afterward.  Eighteen 
is  young  enough  to  begin  the  steady  grind,  if  you  have 
a  strong  constitution  to  keep  pace  with  the  eager 
mind.  Sixteen  is  too  young  to  send  even  my  good 
boy  out  into  the  world,  just  when  he  most  needs  his 
mother's  care  to  help  him  be  the  man  she  hopes  to  see 
him." 

Mrs.  Minot  laid  her  hand  on  his  shoulder  as  she 
spoke,  looking  so  fond  and  proud  that  it  was  impossi 
ble  to  rebel,  though  some  of  his  most  cherished  plans 
were  spoilt. 

"Other  fellows  go  at  my  age,  and  I  was  rather 
pleased  to  be  ready  at  sixteen,"  he  began.  But  she 
added,  quickly,  — 

"  They  go,  but  how  do  they  come  out  ?    Many  lose 


298  JACK  AND  JILL. 

health  of  body,  and  many  what  is  more  precious  still, 
moral  strength,  because  too  young  and  ignorant  to 
withstand  temptations  of  all  sorts.  The  best  part  of 
education  does  not  come  from  books,  and  the  good 
principles  I  value  more  than  either  of  the  other  things 
are  to  be  carefully  watched  over  till  firmly  fixed ;  then 
you  may  face  the  world,  and  come  to  no  real  harm. 
Trust  me,  dear,  I  do  it  for  your  sake ;  so  bear  the  dis 
appointment  bravely,  and  in  the  end  I  think  you  will 
say  I  'm  right." 

"  I  '11  do  my  best ;  but  I  don't  see  what  is  to  become 
of  us  if  we  don't  go  to  school.  You  will  get  tired  of 
it  first,"  said  Frank,  trying  to  set  a  good  example  to 
the  others,  who  were  looking  much  impressed  and 
interested. 

"No  danger  of  that,  for  I  never  sent  my  children 
to  school  to  get  rid  of  them,  and  now  that  they 
are  old  enough  to  be  companions,  I  want  them  at  home 
more  than  ever.  There  are  to  be  some  lessons,  how 
ever,  for  busy  minds  must  be  fed,  but  not  crammed ;  so 
you  boys  will  go  and  recite  at  certain  hours  such  things 
as  seem  most  important.  But  there  is  to  be  no  study 
ing  at  night,  no  shutting  up  all  the  best  hours  of  the 
day,  no  hurry  and  fret  of  getting  on  fast,  or  skimming 
over  the  surface  of  many  studies  without  learning  any 
thoroughly." 

"  So  I  say  !  "  cried  Jack,  pleased  with  the  new  idea, 
for  he  never  did  love  books.  "  I  do  hate  to  be  driven 
so  I  don't  half  understand,  because  there  is  no  time  to 
have  things  explained.  School  is  good  fun  as  far  as 
play  goes  ;  but  I  don't  see  the  sense  of  making  a  fellow 
learn  eighty  questions  in  geography  one  day,  and  for 
get  them  the  next." 


CATTLE  SHOW.  299 

"What  is  to  become  of  me,  please?"  asked  Jill, 
meekly. 

"  You  and  Molly  are  to  have  lessons  here.  I  was  a 
teacher  when  I  was  young,  you  know,  and  liked  it,  so 
I  shall  be  school-ma'am,  and  leave  my  house-keeping 
in  better  hands  than  mine.  I  always  thought  that 
mothers  should  teach  their  girls  during  these  years, 
and  vary  their  studies  to  suit  the -growing  creatures  as 
only  mothers  can." 

"  That  will  be  splendid  !  Will  Molly's  father  let 
her  come  ?  "  cried  Jill,  feeling  quite  reconciled  to  stay 
ing  at  home,  if  her  friend  was  to  be  with  her. 

"  He  likes  the  plan  very  much,  for  Molly  is  growing 
fast,  and  needs  a  sort  of  care  that  Miss  Dawes  cannot 
give  her.  I  am  not  a  hard  mistress,  and  I  hope  you 
will  find  my  school  a  pleasant  one." 

"  I  know  I  shall ;  and  I  'm  not  disappointed,  because 
I  was  pretty  sure  I  could  n't  go  to  the  old  school  again, 
when  I  heard  the  doctor  say  I  must  be  very  careful  for 
along  time.  I  thought  he  meant  months;  but  if  it  must 
be  years,  I  can  bear  it,  for  I  've  been  happy  this  last  one 
though  I  was  sick,"  said  Jill,  glad  to  show  that  it  had 
not  been  wasted  time  by  being  cheerful  and  patient 
now. 

"  That 's  my  good  girl !  "  and  Mrs.  Minot  stroked  the 
curly  black  head  as  if  it  was  her  own  little  daughter's. 
"  You  have  done  so  well,  I  want  you  to  go  on  improv 
ing,  for  care  now  will  save  you  pain  and  disappointment 
by-and-by.  You  all  have  got  a  capital  start  during  these 
six  weeks,  so  it  is  a  good  time  to  begin  my  experiment. 
If  it  does  not  work  well,  we  will  go  back  to  school  and 
college  next  spring." 

"  Hurrah  for  Mamma  and  the  long  vacation  !  "  cried 


300  JACK  AND  JILL. 

Jack,  catching  up  two  big  books  and  whirling  them 
round  like  clubs,  as  if  to  get  his  muscles  in  order  at 
once. 

"Now  I  shall  have  time  to  go  to  the  Gymnasium 
and  straighten  out  my  back,"  said  Frank,  who  was 
growing  so  tall  he  needed  more  breadth  to  make  his 
height  symmetrical. 

"And  to  ride  horseback.  I  am  going  to  hire  old 
Jane  and  get  out  the  little  phaeton,  so  we  can  all 
enjoy  the  fine  weather  while  it  lasts.  Molly  and  I 
can  drive  Jill,  and  you  can  take  turns  in  the  saddle 
when  you  are  tired  of  ball  and  boating.  Exercise  of 
all  sorts  is  one  of  the  lessons  we  are  to  learn,"  said 
Mrs.  Minot,  suggesting  all  the  pleasant  things  she 
could  to  sweeten  the  pill  for  her  pupils,  two  of  whom 
did  love  their  books,  not  being  old  enough  to  know 
that  even  an  excellent  thing  may  be  overdone. 

"  Won't  that  be  gay  ?  I  '11  get  down  the  saddle  to 
day,  so  we  can  begin  right  off.  Lem  rides,  and  we  can 
go  together.  Hope  old  Jane  will  like  it  as  well  as  I 
shall,"  said  Jack,  who  had  found  a  new  friend  in  a 
pleasant  lad  lately  come  to  town. 

"  You  must  see  that  she  does,  for  you  boys  are  to 
take  care  of  her.  We  will  put  the  barn  in  order,  and 
you  can  decide  which  shall  be  hostler  and  which  gar 
dener,  for  I  don't  intend  to  hire  labor  on  the  place  any 
more.  Our  estate  is  not  a  large  one,  and  it  will  be 
excellent  work  for  you,  my  men." 

"  All  right !  I  '11  see  to  Jane.  I  love  horses,"  said 
Jack,  well  pleased  with  the  prospect. 

"  My  horse  won't  need  much  care.  I  prefer  a  bicy 
cle  to  a  beast,  so  I'll  get  in  the  squashes,  pick  the 
apples,  and  cover  the  strawberry  bed  when  it  is  time," 


CATTLE   SHOW.  301 

added  Frank,  who  had  enjoyed  the  free  life  at  Pebbly 
Beach  so  much  that  he  was  willing  to  prolong  it. 

"  You  may  put  me  in  a  hen-coop,  and  keep  me  there 
a  year,  if  you  like.  I  won't  fret,  for  I  'm  sure  you  know 
what  is  best  for  me,"  said  Jill,  gayly,  as  she  looked  up 
at  the  good  friend  who  had  done  so  much  for  her. 

"  I  'm  not  sure  that  I  won't  put  you  in  a  pretty  cage 
and  send  you  to  Cattle  Show,  as  a  sample  of  what  we 
can  do  in  the  way  of  taming  a  wild  bird  till  it  is  nearly 
as  meek  as  a  dove,"  answered  Mrs.  Minot,  much  grati 
fied  at  the  amiability  of  her  flock. 

"  I  don't  see  why  there  should  not  be  an  exhibition 
of  children,  and  prizes  for  the  good  and  pretty  ones,  as 
well  as  for  fat  pigs,  fine  horses,  or  handsome  fruit  and 
flowers,  —  I  don't  mean  a  baby  show,  but  boys  and  girls, 
so  people  can  see  what  the  prospect  is  of  a  good  crop 
for  the  next  generation,"  said  Frank,  glancing  toward 
the  tower  of  the  building  where  the  yearly  Agricultural 
Fair  was  soon  to  be  held. 

"  Years  ago,  there  was  a  pretty  custom  here  of  col 
lecting  all  the  schools  together  in  the  spring,  and  hav 
ing  a  festival  at  the  Town  Hall.  Each  school  showed 
its  best  pupils,  and  the  parents  looked  on  at  the  bloom 
ing  flower  show.  It  was  a  pity  it  was  ever  given  up, 
for  the  schools  have  never  been  so  good  as  then,  nor 
the  interest  in  them  so  great ; "  and  Mrs.  Minot  won 
dered,  as  many  people  do,  why  farmers  seem  to  care 
more  for  their  cattle  and  crops  than  for  their  chil 
dren,  willingly  spending  large  sums  on  big  barns  and 
costly  experiments,  while  the  school-houses  are  shabby 
and  inconvenient,  and  the  cheapest  teachers  preferred. 

"  Ralph  is  going  to  send  my  bust.  He  asked  if  he 
might,  and  mother  said  Yes.  Mr.  German  thinks  it 


302  JACK  AND  JILL. 

very  good,  and  I  hope  other  people  will,"  said  Jill, 
nodding  toward  the  little  plaster  head  that  smiled 
down  from  its  bracket  with  her  own  merry  look. 

"  I  could  send  ray  model ;  it  is  nearly  done.  Ralph 
told  me  it  was  a  clever  piece  of  work,  and  he  knows," 
added  Frank,  quite  taken  with  the  idea  of  exhibiting 
his  skill  in  mechanics. 

"  And  I  could  send  my  star  bedquilt !  They  always 
have  things  of  that  kind  at  Cattle  Show  ; "  and  Jill  began 
to  rummage  in  the  closet  for  the  pride  of  her  heart, 
burning  to  display  it  to  an  admiring  world. 

"  I  have  n't  got  anything.  Can't  sew  rags  together ; 
or  make  baby  engines,  and  I  have  no  live-stock  —  yes, 
I  have  too  !  There  's  old  Bun.  I  '11  send  him,  for  the 
fun  of  it;  he  really  is  a  curiosity,  for  he  is  the  biggest 
one  I  ever  saw,  and  hopping  into  the  lime  has  made 
his  fur  such  a  queer  color,  he  looks  like  a  new  sort  of 
rabbit.  I  '11  catch  and  shut  him  up  before  he  gets  wild 
again  ; "  and  off  rushed  Jack  to  lure  unsuspecting  old 
Bun,  who  had  grown  tame  during  their  absence,  into 
the  cage  which  he  detested. 

They  all  laughed  at  his  ardor,  but  the  fancy  pleased 
them  ;  and  as  Mamma  saw  no  reason  why  their  little 
works  of  art  should  not  be  sent,  Frank  fell  to  work 
on  his  model,  and  Jill  resolved  to  finish  her  quilt  at 
once,  while  Mrs.  Minot  went  off  to  see  Mr.  Acton  about 
the  hours  and  studies  for  the  boys. 

In  a  week  or  two,  the  young  people  were  almost  re 
signed  to  the  loss  of  school,  for  they  found  themselves 
delightfully  fresh  for  the  few  lessons  they  did  have, 
and  not  weary  of  play,  since  it  took  many  useful  forms. 
Old  Jane  not  only  carried  them  all  to  ride,  but  gave 
Jack  plenty  of  work  keeping  her  premises  in  nice  order. 


CATTLE  SHOW.  303 

Frank  mourned  privately  over  the  delay  of  college,  but 
found  a  solace  in  his  whirligig  and  the  Gymnasium, 
where  he  set  himself  to  developing  a  chest  to  match 
the  big  head  above,  which  head  no  longer  ached  with 
eio'ht  or  ten  hours  of  study.  Harvesting  beans  and 
raking  up  leaves  seemed  to  have  a  soothing  effect  upon 
his  nerves,  for  now  he  fell  asleep  at  once  instead  of 
thumping  his  pillow  with  vexation  because  his  brain 
would  go  on  working  at  difficult  problems  and  passages 
when  he  wanted  it  to  stop. 

Jill  and  Molly  drove  away  in  the  little  phaeton  every 
fair  morning  over  the  sunny  hills  and  through  the 
changing  woods,  filling  their  hands  with  asters  and 
golden-rod,  their  lungs  with  the  pure,  invigorating  air, 
and  their  heads  with  all  manner  of  sweet  and  happy 
fancies  and  feelings  born  of  the  wholesome  influences 
about  them.  People  shook  their  heads,  and  said  it  was 
wasting  time ;  but  the  rosy-faced  girls  were  content  to 
trust  those  wiser  than  themselves,  and  found  their  new 
school  very  pleasant.  They  read  aloud  a  good  deal, 
rapidly  acquiring  one  of  the  rarest  and  most  beautiful 
accomplishments ;  for  they  could  stop  and  ask  questions 
as  they  went  along,  so  that  they  understood  what  they 
read,  which  is  half  the  secret.  A  thousand  things  came 
up  as  they  sewed  together  in  the  afternoon,  and  the 
eager  minds  received  much  general  information  in  an 
easy  and  well-ordered  way.  Physiology  was  one  of  the 
favorite  studies,  and  Mrs.  Hammond  often  came  in  to 
give  them  a  little  lecture,  teaching  them  to  understand 
the  wonders  of  their  own  systems,  and  how  to  keep 
them  in  order,  —  a  lesson  of  far  more  importance  just 
then  than  Greek  or  Latin,  for  girls  are  the  future 
mothers,  nurses,  teachers,  of  the  race,  and  should  feel 


304  JACK  AND  JILL. 

how  much  depends  on  them.  Merry  could  not  resist 
the  attractions  of  the  friendly  circle,  and  soon  per 
suaded  her  mother  to  let  her  do  as  they  did ;  so  she 
got  more  exercise  and  less  study,  which  was  just  what 
the  delicate  girl  needed. 

The  first  of  the  new  ideas  seemed  to  prosper,  and 
the  second,  though  suggested  in  joke,  was  carried  out 
in  earnest,  for  the  other  young  people  were  seized  with 
a  strong  desire  to  send  something  to  the  Fair.  In  fact, 
all  sorts  of  queer  articles  were  proposed,  and  much  fun 
prevailed,  especially  among  the  boys,  who  ransacked 
their  gardens  for  mammoth  vegetables,  sighed  for  five- 
legged  calves,  blue  roses,  or  any  other  natural  curiosity 
by  means  of  which  they  might  distinguish  themselves. 
Ralph  was  the  only  one  who  had  anything  really  worth 
sending ;  for  though  Frank's  model  seemed  quite  perfect, 
it  obstinately  refused  to  go,  and  at  the  last  moment 
blew  up  with  a  report  like  a  pop-gun.  So  it  was  laid 
away  for  repairs,  and  its  disappointed  maker  devoted 
his  energies  to  helping  Jack  keep  Bun  in  order ;  for 
that  indomitable  animal  got  out  of  every  prison  they 
put  him  in,  and  led  Jack  a  dreadful  life  during  that 
last  week.  At  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night  that  dis 
tracted  boy  would  start  up,  crying,  "  There  he  is  again  !  " 
and  dart  out  to  give  chase  and  capture  the  villain  now 
grown  too  fat  to  run  as  he  once  did. 

The  very  night  before  the  Fair,  Frank  was  wakened 
by  a  chilly  draught,  and,  getting  up  to  see  where  it 
came  from,  found  Jack's  door  open  and  bed  empty, 
while  the  vision  of  a  white  ghost  flitting  about  the 
garden  suggested  a  midnight  rush  after  old  Bun. 
Frank  watched  laughingly,  till  poor  Jack  came 
toward  the  house  with  the  gentleman  in  gray  kicking 


CATTLE   SHOW.  305 

lustily  in  his  arms,  and  then  whispered  in  a  sepulchral 
tone,  — 

"  Put  him  in  the  old  refrigerator,  he  can't  get  out  of 
that." 

Blessing  him  for  the  suggestion,  the  exhausted  hunter 
shut  up  his  victim  in  the  new  cell,  and  found  it  a  safe 
one,  for  Bun  could  not  burrow  through  a  sheet  of  zinc, 
or  climb  up  the  smooth  walls. 

Jill's  quilt  was  a  very  elaborate  piece  of  work,  being 
bright  blue  with  little  white  stars  all  over  it ;  this  she 
finished  nicely,  and  felt  sure  no  patient  old  lady  could 
outdo  it.  Merry  decided  to  send  butter,  for  she  had 
been  helping  her  mother  in  the  dairy  that  summer,  and 
rather  liked  the  light  part  of  the  labor.  She  knew  it 
would  please  her  very  much  if  she  chose  that  instead 
of  wild  flowers,  so  she  practised  moulding  the  yellow 
pats  into  pretty  shapes,  that  it  might  please  both  eye 
and  taste. 

Molly  declared  she  would  have  a  little  pen,  and  put 
Boo  in  it,  as  the  prize  fat  boy,  —  a  threat  which  so 
alarmed  the  innocent  that  he  ran  away,  and  was  found 
two  or  three  miles  from  home,  asleep  under  the  wall, 
with  two  seed-cakes  and  a  pair  of  socks  done  up  in  a 
bundle.  Being  with  difficulty  convinced  that  it  was 
a  joke,  he  consented  to  return  to  his  family,  but  was 
evidently  suspicious,  till  Molly  decided  to  send  her  cats, 
and  set  about  preparing  them  for  exhibition.  The 
Minots'  deserted  Bunny-house  was  rather  large ;  but 
as  cats  cannot  be  packed  as  closely  as  much-enduring 
sheep,  Molly  borrowed  this  desirable  family  mansion, 
and  put  her  darlings  into  it,  where  they  soon  settled 
down,  and  appeared  to  enjoy  their  new  residence.  It 
had  been  scrubbed  up  and  painted  red,  cushions  and 

20 


306  JACK  AND  JILL. 

plates  put  in,  and  two  American  flags  adorned  the 
roof.  Being  barred  all  round,  a  fine  view  of  the  Happy 
Family  could  be  had,  now  twelve  in  number,  as  Mo 
lasses  had  lately  added  three  white  kits  to  the  varied 
collection. 

The  girls  thought  this  would  be  the  most  interesting 
spectacle  of  all,  and  Grif  proposed  to  give  some  of  the 
cats  extra  tails,  to  increase  their  charms,  especially  poor 
Mortification,  who  would  appreciate  the  honor  of  two, 
after  having  none  for  so  long.  But  Molly  declined, 
and  Grif  looked  about  him  for  some  attractive  animal 
to  exhibit,  so  that  he  too  might  go  in  free  and  come  to 
honor,  perhaps. 

A  young  lady  in  the  town  owned  a  donkey,  a  small, 
gray  beast,  who  insisted  on  tripping  along  the  sidewalks 
and  bumping  her  rider  against  the  walls  as  she  paused 
to  browse  at  her  own  sweet  will,  regardless  of  blows  or 
cries,  till  ready  to  move  on.  Expressing  great  admira 
tion  for  this  rare  animal,  Grif  obtained  leave  to  dis 
play  the  charms  of  Graciosa  at  the  Fair.  Little  did 
she  guess  the  dark  designs  entertained  against  her 
dignity,  and  happily  she  was  not  as  sensitive  to  ridicule 
as  a  less  humble-minded  animal,  so  she  went  willingly 
with  her  new  friend,  and  enjoyed  the  combing  and 
trimming  up  which  she  received  at  his  hands,  while  he 
prepared  for  the  great  occasion. 

When  the  morning  of  September  28th  arrived,  the 
town  was  all  astir,  and  the  Fair  ground  a  lively  scene. 
The  air  was  full  of  the  lowing  of  cattle,  the  tramp 
of  horses,  squealing  of  indignant  pigs,  and  clatter  of 
tongues,  as  people  and  animals  streamed  in  at  the  great 
gate  and  found  their  proper  places.  Our  young  folks 
were  in  a  high  state  of  excitement,  as  they  rumbled 


CATTLE  SHOW.  307 

away  with  their  treasures  in  a  hay-cart.  The  Bunny- 
house  might  have  been  a  cage  of  tigers,  so  rampant 
were  the  cats  at  this  new  move.  Old  Bun,  in  a  small 
box,  brooded  over  the  insult  of  the  refrigerator,  and 
looked  as  fierce  as  a  rabbit  could.  Gus  had  a  coop  of 
rare  fowls,  who  clucked  wildly  all  the  way,  while  Ralph, 
with  the  bust  in  his  arms,  stood  up  in  front,  and  Jill 
and  Molly  bore  the  precious  bedquilt,  as  they  sat 
behind. 

These  objects  of  interest  were  soon  arranged,  and 
the  girls  went  to  admire  Merry's  golden  butter  cups 
among  the  green  leaves,  under  which  lay  the  ice 
that  kept  the  pretty  flowers  fresh.  The  boys  were 
down  below,  where  the  cackling  was  very  loud,  but 
not  loud  enough  to  drown  the  sonorous  bray  which 
suddenly  startled  them  as  much  as  it  did  the  horses 
outside.  A  shout  of  laughter  followed,  and  away  went 
the  lads,  to  see  what  the  fun  was,  while  the  girls  ran 
out  on  the  balcony,  as  some  one  said,  "  It 's  that  rogue 
of  a  Grif  with  some  new  joke." 

It  certainly  was,  and,  to  judge  from  the  peals  of 
merriment,  the  joke  was  a  good  one.  In  at  the  gate 
came  a  two-headed  donkey,  ridden  by  Grif,  in  great 
spirits  at  his  success,  for  the  gate-keeper  laughed  so  he 
never  thought  to  ask  for  toll.  A  train  of  boys  followed 
him  across  the  ground,  lost  in  admiration  of  the  ani 
mal  and  the  cleverness  of  her  rider.  Among  the 
stage  properties  of  the  Dramatic  Club  was  the  old  ass's 
head  once  used  in  some  tableaux  from  "Midsummer 
Night's  Dream."  This  Grif  had  mended  up,  and  fas 
tened  by  means  of  straps  and  a  collar  to  poor  Graciosa's 
neck,  hiding  his  work  with  a  red  cloth  over  her  back. 
One  eye  was  gone,  but  the  other  still  opened  and  shut, 


308  JACK  AND  JILL. 

and  the  long  ears  wagged  by  means  of  strings,  which 
he  slyly  managed  with  the  bridle,  so  the  artificial  head 
looked  almost  as  natural  as  the  real  one.  The  funniest 
thing  of  all  was  the  innocent  air  of  Graciosa,  and  the 
mildly  inquiring  expression  with  which  she  now  and 
then  turned  to  look  at  or  to  smell  of  the  new  ornament 
as  if  she  recognized  a  friend's  face,  yet  was  perplexed 
by  its  want  of  animation.  She  vented  her  feelings  in  a 
bray,  which  Grif  imitated,  convulsing  all  hearers  by  the 
sound  as  well  as  by  the  wink  the  one  eye  gave,  and  the 
droll  waggle  of  one  erect  ear,  while  the  other  pointed 
straight  forward. 

The  girls  laughed  so  at  the  ridiculous  sight  that  they 
nearly  fell  over  the  railing,  and  the  boys  were  in  ecsta 
sies,  especially  when  Grif,  emboldened  by  his  success, 
trotted  briskly  round  the  race-course,  followed  by  the 
cheers  of  the  crowd.  Excited  by  the  noise,  Graciosa 
did  her  best,  till  the  false  head,  loosened  by  the  rapid 
motion,  slipped  round  under  her  nose,  causing  her  to 
stop  so  suddenly  that  Grif  flew  off,  alighting  on  his 
own  head  with  a  violence  which  would  have  killed  any 
other  boy.  Sobered  by  his  downfall,  he  declined  to 
mount  again,  but  led  his  steed  to  repose  in  a  shed, 
while  he  rejoined  his  friends,  who  were  waiting  impa 
tiently  to  congratulate  him  on  his  latest  and  best 
prank. 

The  Committee  went  their  rounds  soon  after,  and, 
when  the  doors  were  again  opened,  every  one  hurried 
to  see  if  their  articles  had  received  a  premium.  A 
cavd  lay  on  the  butter  cups,  and  Mrs.  Grant  was  full  of 
pride  because  her  butter  always  took  a  prize,  and  this 
proved  that  Merry  was  walking  in  her  mother's  steps, 
in  this  direction  at  least.  Another  card  swung  from 


CATTLE  SHOW.  309 

the  blue  quilt,  for  the  kindly  judges  knew  who  made 
it,  and  were  glad  to  please  the  little  girl,  though  sev 
eral  others  as  curious  but  not  so  pretty  hung  near  by. 
The  cats  were  admired,  but,  as  they  were  not  among 
the  animals  usually  exhibited,  there  was  no  prize 
awarded.  Gus  hoped  his  hens  would  get  one ;  but 
somebody  else  outdid  him,  to  the  great  indignation  of 
Laura  and  Lotty,  who  had  fed  the  white  biddies  faith 
fully  for  months.  Jack  was  sure  his  rabbit  was  the 
biggest  there,  and  went  eagerly  to  look  for  his  pre 
mium.  But  neither  card  nor  Bun  were  to  be  seen,  for 
the  old  rascal  had  escaped  for  the  last  time,  and  was 
never  seen  again ;  which  was  a  great  comfort  to  Jack, 
who  was  heartily  tired  of  him. 

Ralph's  bust  was  the  best  of  all,  for  not  only  did  it 
get  a  prize,  and  was  much  admired,  but  a  lady,  who 
found  Jill  and  Merry  rejoicing  over  it,  was  so  pleased 
with  the  truth  and  grace  of  the  little  head,  that  she 
asked  about  the  artist,  and  whether  he  would  do  one 
of  her  own  child,  who  was  so  delicate  she  feared  he 
might  not  live  long. 

Merry  gladly  told  the  story  of  her  ambitious  friend, 
and  went  to  find  him,  that  he  might  secure  the 
order.  While  she  was  gone,  Jill  took  up  the  tale, 
gratefully  telling  how  kind  he  had  been  to  her,  how 
patiently  he  worked  and  waited,  and  how  much  he 
longed  to  go  abroad.  Fortunately  the  lady  was  rich 
and  generous,  as  well  as  fond  of  art,  and  being  pleased 
with  the  bust,  and  interested  in  the  young  sculptor, 
gave  him  the  order  when  he  came,  and  filled  his  soul 
with  joy  by  adding,  that,  if  it  suited  her  when  done,  it 
should  be  put  into  marble.  She  lived  in  the  city,  and 
Ralph  soon  arranged  his  work  so  that  he  could  give  up 


310  JACK  AND  JILL. 

his  noon  hour,  and  go  to  model  the  child;  for  every 
penny  he  could  earn  or  save  now  was  very  precious,  as 
he  still  hoped  to  go  abroad. 

The  girls  were  so  delighted  with  this  good  fortune, 
that  they  did  not  stay  for  the  races,  but  went  home  to 
tell  the  happy  news,  leaving  the  boys  to  care  for  the 
cats,  and  enjoy  the  various  matches  to  come  off  that 
day. 

"  I  'm  so  glad  I  tried  to  look  pleasant  when  I  was 
lying  on  the  board  while  Ralph  did  my  head,  for  the 
pleasantness  got  into  the  clay  face,  and  that  made  the 
lady  like  it,"  said  Jill,  as  she  lay  resting  on  the  sofa. 

"  I  always  thought  it  was  a  dear,  bright  little  face, 
but  now  I  love  and  admire  it  more'  than  ever,"  cried 
Merry,  kissing  it  gratefully,  as  she  remembered  the  help 
and  pleasure  it  had  given  Ralph. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 
DOWN     THE     RIVER. 

A  FORTNIGHT  later,  the  boys  were  picking  apples 
-f~V  one  golden  October  afternoon,  and  the  girls  were 
hurrying  to  finish  their  work,  that  they  might  go  and 
help  the  harvesters.  It  was  six  weeks  now  since  the 
new  school  began,  and  they  had  learned  to  like  it  very 
much,  though  they  found  that  it  was  not  all  play,  by 
any  means.  But  lessons,  exercise,  and  various  sorts  of 
housework  made  an  agreeable  change,  and  they  felt 
that  they  were  learning  things  which  would  be  useful 
to  them  all  their  lives.  They  had  been  making  under 
clothes  for  themselves,  and  each  had  several  neatly 
finished  garments  cut,  fitted,  and  sewed  by  herself,  and 
trimmed  with  the  pretty  tatting  Jill  made  in  such  quan 
tities  while  she  lay  on  her  sofa. 

Now  they  were  completing  new  dressing  sacks,  and 
had  enjoyed  this  job  very  much,  as  each  chose  her  own 
material,  and  suited  her  own  taste  in  the  making.  Jill's 
was  white,  with  tiny  scarlet  leaves  all  over  it,  trimmed 
with  red  braid  and  buttons  so  like  checkerberries  she 
was  tempted  to  eat  them.  Molly's  was  gay,  with  bou 
quets  of  every  sort  of  flower,  scalloped  all  round,  and 
adorned  with  six  buttons,  each  of  a  different  color, 
which  she  thought  the  last  touch  of  elegance.  Merry's, 


312  JACK  AND  JILL. 

though  the  simplest,  was  the  daintiest  of  the  three, 
being  pale  blue,  trimmed  with  delicate  edging,  and 
beautifully  made. 

Mrs.  Minot  had  been  reading  from  Miss  Strickland's 
"  Queens  of  England  "  while  the  girls  worked,  and  an 
illustrated  Shakspeare  lay  open  on  the  table,  as  well  as 
several  fine  photographs  of  historical  places  for  them 
to  look  at  as  they  went  along.  The  hour  was  over 
now,  the  teacher  gone,  and  the  pupils  setting  the  last 
stitches  as  they  talked  over  the  lesson,  which  had  in 
terested  them  exceedingly. 

"  I  really  believe  I  have  got  Henry's  six  wives  into 
my  head  right  at  last.  Two  Annes,  three  Katherines, 
and  one  Jane.  Now  I  've  seen  where  they  lived  and 
heard  their  stories,  I  quite  feel  as  if  I  knew  them,"  said 
Merry,  shaking  the  threads  off  her  work  before  she 
folded  it  up  to  carry  home. 

"  (  King  Henry  the  Eighth  to  six  spouses  was  wedded,  — 
One  died,  one  survived,  two  divorced,  two  beheaded/ 

was  all  I  knew  about  them  before.  Poor  things,  what 
a  bad  time  they  did  have,"  added  Jill,  patting  down 
the  red  braid,  which  would  pucker  a  bit  at  the  corners. 

"  Katherine  Parr  had  the  best  of  it,  because  she  out 
lived  the  old  tyrant  and  so  kept  her  head  on,"  said 
Molly,  winding  the  thread  round  her  last  button,  as  if 
bound  to  fasten  it  on  so  firmly  that  nothing  should 
decapitate  that. 

"  I  used  to  think  I  'd  like  to  be  a  queen  or  a  great 
lady,  and  wear  velvet  and  jewels,  and  live  in  a  palace, 
but  now  I  don't  care  much  for  that  sort  of  splendor. 
I  like  to  make  things  pretty  at  home,  and  know  that 
they  all  depend  on  me,  and  love  me  very  much. 


DOWN  THE  RIVER.  313 

Queens  are  not  happy,  and  I  am,"  said  Merry,  pausing 
to  look  at  Anne  Hathaway's  cottage  as  she  put  up  the 
pictures,  and  to  wonder  if  it  was  very  pleasant  to  have 
a  famous  man  for  one's  husband. 

"  I  guess  your  missionarying  has  done  you  good  ; 
mine  has,  and  I  'm  getting  to  have  things  my  own 
way  more  and  more  every  day.  Miss  Bat  is  so  amia 
ble,  I  hardly  know  her,  and  father  tells  her  to  ask  Miss 
Molly  when  she  goes  to  him  for  orders.  Is  n't  that 
fun  ?  "  laughed  Molly,  in  high  glee,  at  the  agreeable 
change.  "  I  like  it  ever  so  much,  but  I  don't  want  to 
stay  so  all  my  days.  I  mean  to  travel,  and  just  as  soon 
as  I  can  I  shall  take  Boo  and  go  all  round  the  world, 
and  see  everything,"  she  added,  waving  her  gay  sack, 
as  if  it  were  the  flag  she  was  about  to  nail  to  the  mast 
head  of  her  ship. 

"  Well,  I  should  like  to  be  famous  in  some  way,  and 
have  people  admire  me  very  much.  I  'd  like  to  act,  or 
dance,  or  sing,  or  be  what  I  heard  the  ladies  at  Pebbly 
Beach  call  a  '  queen  of  society.'  But  I  don't  expect  to 
be  anything,  and  I  'm  not  going  to  worry,  for  I  shall  not 
be  a  Lucinda,  so  I  ought  to  be  contented  and  happy  all 
my  life,"  said  Jill,  who  was  very  ambitious  in  spite  of 
the  newly  acquired  meekness,  which  was  all  the  more 
becoming  because  her  natural  liveliness  often  broke 
out  like  sunshine  through  a  veil  of  light  clouds. 

If  the  three  girls  could  have  looked  forward  ten 
years  they  would  have  been  surprised  to  see  how  dif 
ferent  a  fate  was  theirs  from  the  one  each  had  chosen, 
and  how  happy  each  was  in  the  place  she  was  called  to 
fill.  Merry  was  not  making  the  old  farm-house  pretty, 
but  living  in  Italy,  with  a  young  sculptor  for  her  hus 
band,  and  beauty  such  as  she  never  dreamed  of  all 


314  JACK  AND  JILL. 

about  her.  Molly  was  not  travelling  round  the  world, 
but  contentedly  keeping  house  for  her  father  and  still 
watching  over  Boo,  who  was  becoming  her  pride  and 
joy  as  well  as  care.  Neither  was  Jill  a  famous  woman, 
but  a  very  happy  and  useful  one,  with  the  two  mothers 
leaning  on  her  as  they  grew  old,  the  young  men  better 
for  her  influence  over  them,  many  friends  to  love  and 
honor  her,  and  a  charming  home,  where  she  was  queen 
by  right  of  her  cheery  spirit,  grateful  heart,  and  unfail 
ing  devotion  to  those  who  had  made  her  what  she  was. 

If  any  curious  reader,  not  content  with  this  peep 
into  futurity,  asks,  "  Did  Molly  and  Jill  ever  marry  ?  " 
we  must  reply,  for  the  sake  of  peace,  —  Molly  remained 
a  merry  spinster  all  her  days,  one  of  the  independent, 
brave,  and  busy  creatures  of  whom  there  is  such  need 
in  the  world  to  help  take  care  of  other  peoples'  wives 
and  children,  and  do  the  many  useful  jobs  that  the 
married  folk  have  no  time  for.  Jill  certainly  did 
wear  a  white  veil  on  the  day  she  was  twenty-five  and 
called  her  husband  Jack.  Further  than  that  we  cannot 
go,  except  to  say  that  this  leap  did  not  end  in  a  catas 
trophe,  like  the  first  one  they  took  together. 

That  day,  however,  they  never  dreamed  of  what 
was  in  store  for  them,  but  chattered  away  as  they 
cleared  up  the  room,  and  then  ran  off  ready  for  play, 
feeling  that  they  had  earned  it  by  work  well  done. 
They  found  the  lads  just  finishing,  with  Boo  to  help  by 
picking  up  the  windfalls  for  the  cider-heap,  after  he 
had  amused  himself  by  putting  about  a  bushel  down 
the  various  holes  old  Bun  had  left  behind  him.  Jack 
was  risking  his  neck  climbing  in  the  most  dangerous 
places,  while  Frank,  with  a  long-handled  apple-picker, 
nipped  off  the  finest  fruit  with  care,  both  enjoying  the 


DOWN  THE  RIVER. 

pleasant  task  and  feeling  proud  of  the  handsome  red 
and  yellow  piles  all  about  the  little  orchard.  Merry 
and  Molly  caught  up  baskets  and  fell  to  work  with  all 
their  might,  leaving  Jill  to  sit  upon  a  stool  and  sort 
the  early  apples  ready  to  use  at  once,  looking  up  now 
and  then  to  nod  and  smile  at  her  mother  who  watched 
her  from  the  window,  rejoicing  to  see  her  lass  so  well 
and  happy. 

It  was  such  a  lovely  day,  they  all  felt  its  cheerful 
influence ;  for  the  sun  shone  bright  and  warm,  the  air 
was  full  of  an  invigorating  freshness  which  soon  made 
the  girls'  faces  look  like  rosy  apples,  and  their  spirits 
as  gay  as  if  they  had  been  stealing  sips  of  new  cider 
through  a  straw.  Jack  whistled  like  a  blackbird  as  he 
swung  and  bumped  about,  Frank  orated  and  joked, 
Merry  and  Molly  ran  races  to  see  who  would  fill  and 
empty  fastest,  and  Jill  sung  to  Boo,  who  reposed  in  a 
barrel,  exhausted  with  his  labors. 

"These  are  the  last  of  the  pleasant  days,  and  we 
ought  to  make  the  most  of  them.  Let 's  have  one 
more  picnic  before  the  frost  spoils  the  leaves,"  said 
Merry,  resting  a  minute  at  the  gate  to  look  down  the 
street,  which  was  a  glorified  sort  of  avenue,  with  bril 
liant  maples  lining  the  way  and  carpeting  the  ground 
with  crimson  and  gold. 

"  Oh,  yes !  go  down  the  river  once  more  and  have 
supper  on  the  Island.  I  could  n't  go  to  some  of  your 
picnics,  and  I  do  long  for  a  last  good  time  before  win 
ter  shuts  me  up  again,"  cried  Jill,  eager  to  harvest  all 
the  sunshine  she  could,  for  she  was  not  yet  quite  her 
old  self  again. 

"I'm  your  man,  if  the  other  fellows  agree.  We 
can't  barrel  these  up  for  a  while,  so  to-morrow  will  be 


316  JACK  AND  JILL. 

a  holiday  for  us.  Better  make  sure  of  the  day  while 
you  can,  this  weather  can't  last  long ; "  and  Frank 
shook  his  head  like  one  on  intimate  terms  with  Old 
Prob. 

"  Don't  worry  about  those  high  ones,  Jack.  Give  a 
shake  and  come  down  and  plan  about  the  party,"  called 
Molly,  throwing  up  a  big  Baldwin  with  what  seemed 
a  remarkably  good  aim,  for  a  shower  of  apples  followed, 
and  a  boy  came  tumbling  earthward  to  catch  on  the 
lowest  bough  and  swing  down  like  a  caterpillar,  ex 
claiming,  as  he  landed,  — 

"I'm  glad  that  job  is  done!  I've  rasped  every 
knuckle  I  've  got  and  worn  out  the  knees  of  my  pants. 
Nice  little  crop  though,  is  n't  it  ?  " 

"  It  will  be  nicer  if  this  young  man  does  not  bite 
every  apple  he  touches.  Hi  there  !  stop  it,  Boo,"  com 
manded  Frank,  as  he  caught  his  young  assistant  put 
ting  his  small  teeth  into  the  best  ones,  to  see  if  they 
were  sweet  or  sour. 

Molly  set  the  barrel  up  on  end,  and  that  took  the  boy 
out  of  the  reach  of  mischief,  so  he  retired  from  view 
and  peeped  through  a  crack  as  he  ate  his  fifth  pear- 
main,  regardless  of  consequences. 

"  Gus  will  be  at  home  to-morrow.  He  always  comes 
up  early  on  Saturday,  you  know.  We  can't  get  on 
without  him,"  said  Frank,  who  missed  his  mate  very 
much,  for  Gus  had  entered  college,  and  so  far  did  not 
like  it  as  much  as  he  had  expected. 

"  Or  Ralph ;  he  is  very  busy  every  spare  minute  on 
the  little  boy's  bust,  which  is  getting  on  nicely,  he  says ; 
but  he  will  be  able  to  come  home  in  time  for  supper, 
I  think,"  added  Merry,  remembering  the  absent,  as 
usual. 


DOWN   THE  RIVER.  817 

"  I  '11  ask  the  girls  on  my  way  home,  and  all  meet  at 
two  o'clock  for  a  good  row  while  it 's  warm.  What 
shall  I  bring?"  asked  Molly,  wondering  if  Miss  Bat's 
amiability  would  extend  to  making  goodies  in  the 
midst  of  her  usual  Saturday's  baking. 

"  You  bring  coffee  and  the  big  pot  and  some  but 
tered  crackers.  I  '11  see  to  the  pie  and  cake,  and  the 
other  girls  can  have  anything  else  they  like,"  answered 
Merry,  glad  and  proud  that  she  could  provide  the 
party  with  her  own  inviting  handiwork. 

"  I  '11  take  my  zither,  so  we  can  have  music  as  we 
sail,  and  Grif  will  bring  his  violin,  and  Ralph  can  imi 
tate  a  banjo  so  that  you'd  be  sure  he  had  one.  .1  do 
hope  it  will  be  fine,  it  is  so  splendid  to  go  round  like 
other  folks  and  enjoy  myself,"  cried  Jill,  with  a  little 
bounce  of  satisfaction  at  the  prospect  of  a  row  and 
ramble. 

"  Come  along,  then,  and  make  sure  of  the  girls,"  said 
Merry,  catching  up  her  roll  of  work,  for  the  harvesting 
was  done. 

Molly  put  her  sack  on  as  the  easiest  way  of  carrying 
it,  and,  extricating  Boo,  they  went  off,  accompanied  by 
the  boys,  "  to  make  sure  of  the  fellows  "  also,  leaving 
Jill  to  sit  among  the  apples,  singing  and  sorting  like  a 
thrifty  little  housewife. 

Next  day  eleven  young  people  met  at  the  appointed 
place,  basket  in  hand.  Ralph  could  not  come  till  biter, 
for  he  was  working  now  as  he  never  worked  before. 
They  were  a  merry  flock,  for  the  mellow  autumn  day 
was  even  brighter  and  clearer  than  yesterday,  and  the 
river  looked  its  loveliest,  winding  away  under  the  som 
bre  hemlocks,  or  through  the  fairyland  the  gay  woods 
made  on  either  side.  Two  large  boats  and  two  small 


318  JACK  AND  JILL. 

ones  held  them  all,  and  away  they  went,  first  up  through 
the  three  bridges  and  round  the  bend,  then,  turning, 
they  floated  down  to  the  green  island,  where  a  grove 
of  oaks  rustled  their  sere  leaves  and  the  squirrels  were 
still  gathering  acorns.  Here  they  often  met  to  keep 
their  summer  revels,  and  here  they  now  spread  their 
feast  on  the  flat  rock  which  needed  no  cloth  beside  its 
own  gray  lichens.  The  girls  trimmed  each  dish  with 
bright  leaves,  and  made  the  supper  look  like  a  banquet 
for  the  elves,  while  the  boys  built  a  fire  in  the  nook 
where  ashes  and  blackened  stones  told  of  many  a  rus 
tic  meal.  The  big  tin  coffee-pot  was  not  so  romantic, 
but  more  successful  than  a  kettle  slung  on  three  sticks, 
gypsy  fashion  ;  so  they  did  not  risk  a  downfall,  but  set 
the  water  boiling,  and  soon  filled  the  air  with  the  agree 
able  perfume  associated  in  their  minds  with  picnics,  as 
most  of  them  never  tasted  the  fascinating  stuff  at  any 
other  time,  being  the  worst  children  can  drink. 

Frank  was  cook,  Gus  helped  cut  bread  and  cake, 
Jack  and  Grif  brought  wood,  while  Bob  Walker  took 
Joe's  place  and  made  himself  generally  useful,  as  the 
other  gentleman  never  did,  and  so  was  quite  out  of 
favor  lately. 

All  was  ready  at  last,  and  they  were  just  deciding  to 
sit  down  without  Ralph,  wrhen  a  shout  told  them  he 
was  coming,  and  down  the  river  skimmed  a  wherry  at 
such  a  rate  the  boys  wondered  whom  he  had  been 
racing  with. 

"  Something  has  happened,  and  he  is  coming  to  tell 
us,"  said  Jill,  who  sat  where  she  could  see  his  eager 
face. 

"  Nothing  bad,  or  he  would  n't  smile  so.  He  is  glad 
of  a  good  row  and  a  little  fun  after  working  so  hard  all 


DOWN   THE  RIVER.  319 

the  week ; "  and  Merry  shook  a  red  napkin  as  a  welcom 
ing  signal. 

Something  certainly  had  happened,  and  a  very  happy 
something  it  must  be,  they  all  thought,  as  Ralph  came 
on  with  flashing  oars,  and  leaping  out  as  the  boat 
touched  the  shore,  ran  up  the  slope,  waving  his  hat, 
and  calling  in  a  glad  voice,  sure  of  sympathy  in  his 
delight,  — 

"  Good  news  !  good  news  !  Hurrah  for  Rome,  next 
month ! " 

The  young  folks  forgot  their  supper  for  a  moment, 
to  congratulate  him  on  his  happy  prospect,  and  hear 
all  about  it,  while  the  leaves  rustled  as  if  echoing  the 
kind  words,  and  the  squirrels  sat  up  aloft,  wondering 
what  all  the  pleasant  clamor  was  about. 

"  Yes,  I  'm  really  going  in  November.  German  asked 
me  to  go  with  him  to-day,  and  if  there  is  any  little 
hitch  in  my  getting  off,  he  '11  lend  a  hand,  and  I  —  I  '11 
black  his  boots,  wet  his  clay,  and  run  his  errands  the 
rest  of  my  life  to  pay  for  this  !  "  cried  Ralph,  in  a  burst 
of  gratitude ;  for,  independent  as  he  was,  the  kind 
ness  of  this  successful  friend  to  a  deserving  comrade 
touched  and  won  his  heart. 

"  I  call  that  a  handsome  thing  to  do  !  "  said  Frank, 
warmly,  for  noble  actions  always  pleased  him.  "I 
heard  my  mother  say  that  making  good  or  useful  men 
was  the  best  sort  of  sculpture,  so  I  think  David  Ger 
man  may  be  proud  of  this  piece  of  work,  whether  the 
big  statue  succeeds  or  not." 

"I'm  very  glad,  old  fellow.  When  I  run  over  for 
my  trip  four  years  from  now,  I  '11  look  you  up,  and  see 
how  you  are  getting  on,"  said  Gus,  with  a  hearty  shake 
of  the  hand  ;  and  the  younger  lads  grinned  cheerfully, 


320  JACK  AND  JILL. 

even  while  they  wondered  where  the  fun  was  in  shap 
ing  clay  and  chipping  marble. 

"Shall  you  stay  four  years?"  asked  Merry's  soft 
voice,  while  a  wistful  look  came  into  her  happy  eyes. 

"  Ten,  if  I  can,"  answered  Ralph,  decidedly,  feeling 
as  if  a  long  lifetime  would  be  all  too  short  for  the 
immortal  work  he  meant  to  do.  "  I  've  got  so  much  to 
learn,  that  I  shall  do  whatever  David  thinks  best  for 
me  at  first,  and  when  I  can  go  alone,  I  shall  just  shut 
myself  up  and  forget  that  there  is  any  world  outside 
my  den." 

"  Do  write  and  tell  us  how  you  get  on  now  and  then; 
I  like  to  hear  about  other  people's  good  times  while 
I  'm  waiting  for  my  own,"  said  Molly,  too  much  inter 
ested  to  observe  that  Grif  was  sticking  burrs  up  and 
down  her  braids. 

"Of  course  I  shall  write  to  some  of  you,  but  you 
must  n't  expect  any  great  things  for  years  yet.  People 
don't  grow  famous  in  a  hurry,  and  it  takes  a  deal  of 
hard  work  even  to  earn  your  bread  and  butter,  as 
you  '11  find  if  you  ever  try  it,"  answered  Ralph,  sober 
ing  down  a  little  as  he  remembered  the  long  and  steady 
effort  it  had  taken  to  get  even  so  far. 

"  Speaking  of  bread  and  butter  reminds  me  that  we  'd 
better  eat  ours  before  the  coffee  gets  quite  cold,"  said 
Annette,  for  Merry  seemed  to  have  forgotten  that  she 
had  been  chosen  to  play  matron,  as  she  was  the  oldest. 

The  boys  seconded  the  motion,  and  for  a  few  minutes 
supper  was  the  all-absorbing  topic,  as  the  cups  went 
round  and  the  goodies  vanished  rapidly,  accompanied 
by  the  usual  mishaps  which  make  picnic  meals  such 
fun.  Ralph's  health  was  drunk  with  all  sorts  of  good 
wishes ;  and  such  splendid  prophecies  were  made,  that 


DOWN   THE  RIVER.  321 

he  would  have  far  surpassed  Michael  Angelo,  if  they 
could  have  come  true.  Grif  gave  him  an  order  on  the 
spot  for  a  full-length  statue  of  himself,  and  stood  up 
to  show  the  imposing  attitude  in  which  he  wished  to 
be  taken,  but  unfortunately  slipped  and  fell  forward 
with  one  hand  in  the  custard  pie,  the  other  clutching 
wildly  at  the  coffee-pot,  which  inhospitably  burnt  his 
n'ngers. 

"  I  think  I  grasp  the  idea,  and  will  be  sure  to  re 
member  not  to  make  your  hair  blow  one  way  and  the 
tails  of  your  coat  another,  as  a  certain  sculptor  made 
those  of  a  famous  man,"  laughed  Ralph,  as  the  fallen 
hero  scrambled  up,  amidst  general  merriment. 

"  Will  the  little  bust  be  done  before  you  go  ?"  asked 
Jill,  anxiously,  feeling  a  personal  interest  in  the  success 
of  that  order. 

"  Yes :  I  've  been  hard  at  it  every  spare  minute  I 
could  get,  and  have  a  fortnight  more.  It  suits  Mrs. 
Lennox,  and  she  will  pay  well  for  it,  so  I  shall  have 
something  to  start  with,  though  I  have  n't  been  able  to 
gave  much.  I  'm  to  thank  you  for  that,  and  I  shall 
send  you  the  first  pretty  thing  I  get  hold  of,"  answered 
Ralph,  looking  gratefully  at  the  bright  face,  which 
grew  still  brighter  as  Jill  exclaimed,  — 

"  I  do  feel  so  proud  to  know  a  real  artist,  and  have 
my  bust  done  by  him.  I  only  wish  I  could  pay  for  it 
as  Mrs.  Lennox  does ;  but  I  have  n't  any  money,  and  you 
don't  need  the  sort  of  things  I  can  make,"  she  added, 
shaking  her  head,  as  she  thought  over  knit  slippers, 
wall-pockets,  and  crochet  in  all  its  forms,  as  offerings 
to  her  departing  friend. 

"  You  can  write  often,  and  tell  me  all  about  every 
body,  for  I  shall  want  to  know,  and  people  will  soon 

21 


322  JACK  AND  JILL. 

forget  me  when  I'm  gone,"  said  Ralph,  looking  at 
Merry,  who  was  making  a  garland  of  yellow  leaves  for 
Juilet's  black  hair. 

Jill  promised,  and  kept  her  word ;  but  the  longest 
letters  went  from  the  farm-house  on  the  hill,  though 
no  one  knew  the  fact  till  long  afterward.  Merry  said 
nothing  now,  but  she  smiled,  with  a  pretty  color  in  her 
cheeks,  and  was  very  much  absorbed  in  her  work, 
while  the  talk  went  on. 

"  I  wish  I  was  twenty,  and  going  to  seek  my  fortune, 
as  you  are,"  said  Jack ;  and  the  other  boys  agreed  with 
him,  for  something  in  Ralph's  new  plans  and  purposes 
roused  the  manly  spirit  in  all  of  them,  reminding  them 
that  playtime  would  soon  be  over,  and  the  great  world 
before  them,  where  to  choose. 

"It  is  easy  enough  to  say  what  you'd  like;  but  the 
trouble  is,  you  have  to  take  what  you  can  get,  and 
make  the  best  of  it,"  said  Gus,  whose  own  views  were 
rather  vague  as  yet. 

"No  you  don't,  always;  you  can  make  things  go  as 
you  want  them,  if  you  only  try  hard  enough,  and  walk 
right  over  whatever  stands  in  the  way.  I  don't  mean 
to  give  up  my  plans  for  any  man  ;  but,  if  I  live,  I  '11 
carry  them  out,  —  you  see  if  I  don't ; "  and  Frank  gave 
the  rock  where  he  lay  a  blow  with  his  fist,  that  sent 
the  acorns  flying  all  about. 

One  of  them  hit  Jack,  and  he  said,  sorrowfully,  as  he 
held  it  in  his  hand  so  carefully  it  was  evident  he  had 
some  association  with  it,  — 

"  Ed  used  to  say  that,  and  he  had  some  splendid 
plans,  but  they  did  n't  come  to  anything." 

"  Perhaps  they  did ;  who  can  tell  ?  Do  your  best 
while  you  live,  and  I  don't  believe  anything  good  is  lost, 


DOWN   THE   K1VER.  328 

whether  we  have  it  a  long  or  a  short  time,"  said  Ralph, 
\vho  knew  what  a  help  and  comfort  high  hopes  were, 
and  how  they  led  to  better  things,  if  w.orthily  cherished. 

"  A  great  many  acorns  are  wasted,  I  suppose  ;  but 
some  of  them  sprout  and  grow,  and  make  splendid 
trees,"  added  Merry,  feeling  more  than-  she  knew  how 
to  express,  as  she  looked  up  at  the  oaks  overhead. 

Only  seven  of  the  party  were  sitting  on  the  knoll 
now,  for  the  rest  had  gone  to  wash  the  dishes  and  pack 
the  baskets  down  by  the  boats.  Jack  and  Jill,  with  the 
three  elder  boys,  were  in  a  little  group,  and  as  Merry 
spoke,  Gus  said  to  Frank,  — 

"  Did  you  plant  yours  ?  " 

"  Yes,  on  the  lawn,  and  I  mean  it  shall  come  up  if  I 
can  make  it,"  answered  Frank,  gravely. 

"  I  put  mine  where  I  can  see  it  from  the  window, 
and  not  forget  to  water  and  take  care  of  it,"  added 
Jack,  still  turning  the  pretty  brown  acorn  to  and  fro 
as  if  he  loved  it. 

"  What  do  they  mean  ?  "  whispered  Merry  to  Jill, 
who  was  leaning  against  her  knee  to  rest. 

"  The  boys  were  walking  in  the  Cemetery  last  Sunday, 
as  they  often  do,  and  when  they  came  to  Ed's  grave, 
the  place  was  all  covered  with  little  acorns  from  the 
tree  that  grows  on  the  bank.  They  each  took  up  some 
as  they  stood  talking,  and  Jack  said  he  should  plant 
his,  for  he  loved  Ed  very  much,  you  know.  The  others 
said  they  would,  too  ;  and  I  hope  the  trees  will  grow, 
though  we  don't  need  anything  to  remember  him  by," 
answered  Jill,  in  a  low  tone,  thinking  of  the  pressed 
flowers  the  girls  kept  for  his  sake. 

The  boys  heard  her,  but  no  one  spoke  for  a  moment 
as  they  sat  looking  across  the  river  toward  the  hill 


324  JACK  AND  JILL. 

where  the  pines  whispered  their  lullabies  and  pointed 
heavenward,  steadfast  and  green,  all  the  year  round. 
None  of  them  could  express  the  thought  that  was  in 
their  minds  as  Jill  told  the  little  story ;  but  the  act  and 
the  feeling  that  prompted  it  were  perhaps  as  beautiful 
an  assurance  as  could  have  been  given  that  the  dear 
dead  boy's  example  had  not  been  wasted,  for  the 
planting  of  the  acorns  was  a  symbol  of  the  desire  bud 
ding  in  those  young  hearts  to  be  what  he  might  have 
been,  and  to  make  their  lives  nobler  for  the  knowledge 
and  the  love  of  him. 

"  It  seems  as  if  a  great  deal  had  happened  this  year," 
said  Merry,  in  a  pensive  tone,  for  this  quiet  talk  just 
suited  her  mood. 

"  So  I  say,  for  there  's  been  a  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence  and  a  Revolution  in  our  house,  and  I  'm  comman- 
der-in-chief  now  ;  and  don't  I  like  it ! "  cried  Molly, 
complacently  surveying  the  neat  new  uniform  she  wore 
of  her  own  choosing. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  never  learned  so  much  in  my  life  as  I 
have  since  last  December,  and  yet  I  never  did  so  little," 
added  Jill,  wondering  why  the  months  of  weariness 
and  pain  did  not  seem  more  dreadful  to  her. 

"Well,  pitching  on  my  head  seems  to  have  given 
me  a  good  shaking  up,  somehow,  and  I  mean  to  do 
great  things  next  year  in  better  ways  than  breaking 
my  bones  coasting,"  said  Jack,  with  a  manly  air. 

"  I  feel  like  a  Siamese  twin  without  his  mate  now 
you  are  gone,  but  I  'm  under  orders  for  a  while,  and 
mean  to  do  my  best.  Guess  it  won't  be  lost  time ; "  and 
Frank  nodded  at  Gus,  who  nodded  back  with  the 
slightly  superior  expression  all  Freshmen  wear. 

"  Hope  you  won't  find  it  so.    My  work  is  all  cut  out 


DOWN   THE   1UVER.  325 

for  me,  and  I  intend  to  go  in  and  win,  though  it  is 
more  of  a  grind  than  you  fellows  know." 

"I  'in  sure  I  have  everything  to  be  grateful  for.  It 
won't  be  plain  sailing,  —  I  don't  expect  it ;  but,  if  I  live, 
I  '11  do  something  to  be  proud  of,"  said  Ralph,  squaring 
his  shoulders  as  if  to  meet  and  conquer  all  obstacles  as 
he  looked  into  the  glowing  west,  which  was  not  fairer 
than  his  ambitious  dreams. 

Here  we  will  say  good-by  to  these  girls  and  boys 
of  ours  as  they  sit  together  in  the  sunshine  talking 
over  a  year  that  was  to  be  for  ever  memorable  to  them, 
not  because  of  any  very  remarkable  events,  but  because 
they  were  just  beginning  to  look  about  them  as  they 
stepped  out  of  childhood  into  youth,  and  some  of  the 
experiences  of  the  past  months  had  set  them  to  think 
ing,  taught  them  to  see  the  use  and  beauty  of  the  small 
duties,  joys,  and  sorrows  which  make  up  our  lives,  and 
inspired  them  to  resolve  that  the  coming  year  should 
be  braver  and  brighter  than  the  last. 

There  are  many  such  boys  and  girls,  full  of  high 
hopes,  lovely  possibilities,  and  earnest  plans,  pausing  a 
moment  before  they  push  their  little  boats  from  the 
safe  shore.  Let  those  who  launch  them  see  to  it  that 
they  have  good  health  to  man  the  oars,  good  education 
for  ballast,  and  good  principles  as  pilots  to  guide  them 
as  they  voyage  down  an  ever-widening  river  to  the 
sea. 


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